Of 


II 


VI 


i 


GIFT   OF 
Prof.   Frederic  Blolett: 


The   Battle  of  Long  Island. 


ALTEAXUS'    YOUNG    PEOPLE'S    LIBRARY 

THE  BATTLES 

or  THE 

WAP  EOP  INDEPENDENCE 


Being  the  Story  of  the  Revolutionary  War  and  the  War  of  1812. 
to  which  is  added  the  Battles  of  the  War  with  /Mexico 


BY   PRESCOTT   HOLMES 


WITH    SEVENTY    ILLUSTRATIONS 


Copyright  1897  by  Henry  Altemus 


PHILADELPHIA 

HENRY    ALTE/nUS    COMPANY 


GIFT  OF 


PREFACE. 


OF  the  various  subjects  forming  portions  of  the 
history  of  a  nation,  none  has  been  so  generally  accept 
able  to  young  people  as  the  record  of  its  WARS.  The 
school  histories  of  the  country  must  necessarily  be 
brief  in  their  descriptions  of  the  various  movements  of 
the  armies,  and  the  various  conflicts  in  which  they 
have  been  engaged.  It  would  exceed  the  limits  of  a 
work  of  this  nature  to  attempt  any  relation  of  all  the 
skirmishes  in  our  country's  history,  but  we  have  en 
deavored  to  bring  together  the  story  of  the  decisive 
events,  and  the  resulting  effects. 

The  little  Eastern  States,  thickening  with  popula 
tion,  had  to  find  an  outlet  in  the  direction  of  the  West. 
Those  fertile  sections  were  greedily  coveted  by  the  new 
settlers,  and  quietly  appropriated;  and  the  Red  man 
was  pushed  along  in  the  direction  of  sunset.  He  per 
sisted  in  cherishing  his  natural  hatred  of  the  interlopers 
upon  his  hunting-grounds,  and  his  villages  became  the 
encampments  of  resentment,  discontent,  and  meditated 
vengeance. 

We  have  made  no  attempt  to  recount  the  numberless 
battles  with  the  Indians.  After  their  own  fashion  they 
fought  for  their  homes,  their  property,  their  families, 
and  their  rights.  They  were  sometimes  armed — but 
never  had  fe/d-pieces — and  the  result  of  the  fighting 
was  never  doubtful.  (j) 


CONTENTS. 


CHAPTER    I.       IN    AND    AROUND    BOSTON  .  .  .9 

The  "Tea  Party's"  Demonstration — Continental  Congress 
— Franklin  and  the  Colonial  Agents — General  Gage — Sir 
William  Howe — John  Adams — Battles  at  Lexington  and  Con 
cord — The  Minute  Men — Bunker's  Hill — Putnam  and  Prescott 
— Death  of  Joseph  Warren — Siege  of  Boston — George  Wash 
ington  Assumes  Command — Henry  Knox — The  Evacuation 
of  Boston  by  the  British — New  York. 

CHAPTER     II.       TICONDEROGA    AND    CROWN    POINT.  .    51 

Samuel  Adams — John  Hancock — Ethan  Allen — The  Green 
Mountain  Boys — Benedict  Arnold — Capture  of  Ticonderoga 
— Crown  Point  Taken — Skenesborough — Attack  on  St.  Johns. 

CHAPTER    III.       IN    AND    AROUND    NEW   YORK  .  .57 

Declaration  of  Independence  Adopted  and  Read  to  the  Army 
— New  York  .  City — Howe's  Fleet  Arrives  — Washington — 
Clinton  —  Cornwallis — Hessians — Battles  on  Long  Island — • 
Greene  and  Sullivan — Harlem  Heights — Fort  Washington — 
Retreat  through  New  Jersey. 

CHAPTER     IV.'     THE    EXPEDITIONS    AGAINST    CANADA        .     63 
General  Schuyler — Richard  Montgomery — St.  Johns  — Ethan 
Allen  Attempts  to  Surprise  Montreal — Is  Defeated,  Captured, 
and   sent  Ironed  to  England — Carleton  and  the  Indian  Allies 
— Fort    Chambly    Captured — Montreal    surrenders — Arnold's 

(v) 


vi  CONTENTS. 

Journey  Through  Maine — Quebec  Assaulted — The  Patriots 
Repulsed  —  Aaron  Burr — Death  of  Montgomery  —  Arnold 
Wounded — General  Wooster — The  Patriots  Abandon  Canada. 

CHAPTER    V.       IN    AND    AROUND    PHILADELPHIA     .  .       8 1 

Crossing  the  Delaware — Battle  at  Trenton — Defeat  of  the 
Hessians — Battle  at  Princeton — Cornwallis  Abandons  Jersey 
— Battle  at  Brandywine— British  Occupy  Philadelphia — Battle 
at  Germantovvn — Valley  Forge. 

CHAPTER    VI.       THE    CAMPAIGN    AT    THE    NORTH   .  .       98 

Burgoyne  —  Indian  Allies — Ticonderoga  Evacuated — Fort 
Edward — Battle  at  Bennington — Generate  Stark  and  Gates — • 
Bemis's  Heights — Battles  of  Saratoga — Kosciusko — Arnold 
Wounded — Morgan — Lincoln  —  Burgoyne's  Surrender — Ti 
conderoga  and  Crown  Point  Evacuated  by  the  British. 

CHAPTER    VII.       THE    STORMING    OF    STONY    POINT  ,     115 

Baron  Steuben — Clinton — Washington  and  Anthony  Wayne 
— Stony  Point  Captured. 

CHAPTER  VIII.  THE  CAMPAIGNS  AT  THE  SOUTH  <  124 
Clinton  Carries  the  War  South — Savannah  Attacked  and  Re 
duced — Lincoln  Takes  Command  of  the  Patriot  Forces  in 
the  South — D'Estaing  and  His  French  Fleet — The  Siege  of 
Savannah  Abandoned — Siege  of  Charleston  by  Clinton — 
Cornwallis  Arrives — Charleston  Surrenders — Clinton  Returns 
to  New  York  Leaving  Cornwallis  in  Command — Battle  at 
Camden — Death  of  DeKalb — General  Gates  Removed — 
Battle  at  Cowpens — Morgan  and  Carleton — Battle  at  Guil- 
ford — The  Siege  of  Yorktown — French  Fleet  and  Count 
De  Grasse — Count  Rochambeau — Washington  Moves  South 
—Naval  Battle  Between  the  French  and  British  Fleets — Corn 
wallis  Hemmed  In — Cornwallis  Surrenders — The  Independ 
ence  of  the  United  States  Acknowledged. 


CONTENTS.  vii 

CHAPTER    IX.       THE    REVOLUTIONARY  BATTLES    ON  SEA.    154 
The  First   Naval  Action  at  Machias— Loss  of  the  Raleigh — 
Capture  of  the  Hawk  and  the  Pigot — John  Paul  Jones — The 
SerapJiis  and  the  Scarborough  captured. 

CHAPTER  X.     THE  WAR  OF  1812-1815     .         .         .  769 

Jefferson  and  the  Embargo  Act — The  Leopard  and  the  Chesa 
peake — War  Declared  —  Dearborn  Commands  the  Land 
Forces — Lower  Canada  Attacked — General  Hull  Surrenders 
Detroit  to  General  Brock — Fort  Dearborn  at  Chicago  Evac 
uated — The  Troops  Massacred  by  the  Indians — Another  Ex 
pedition  to  Upper  Canada  Repulsed — The  Ersex  Junto — 
General  W.  H.  Harrison — Madison  Becomes  President — The 
Army  Increased  and  a  Navy  Ordered  Built — Defeat  and 
Massacre  at  Frenchtown — Tecumseh — Repulse  of  the  British 
Before  Fort  Meigs — Toronto  Captured  and  Sacked — The 
British  Destroy  Plattsburg  on  Lake  Champlain — Perry's  Vic 
tory  on  Lake  Erie — General  Harrison's  Victories — Jackson 
Battles  with  and  Defeats  the  Indians — The  British  Sqiiadrou 
Defeated  on  Lake  Champlain — Washington  Burned— Balti 
more  Attacked — Fort  McHenry  Attacked — The  British  Re 
pulsed  and  Move  South — The  New  England  Coasts  Bom 
barded  and  Villages  Destroyed — The  British  in  the  Gulf  of 
Mexico — Louisiana  Invaded — Jackson  at  New  Orleans — Th3 
British  Defeated  and  Packenham  Killed — Peace  Declared. 

CHAPTER  XI.     THE  SEA  BATTLES  OF  1812-1815        •     205 

The  Constitution  and  Guerriere — The  Wasp  and  the  Frolic^ 
The  United  States  and  the  Macedonian — The  Constitution 
and  the  Java — The  Hornet  and  the  Peacock — The  Chesa 
peake  and  the  Shannon — The  Argus  and  the  Pelican — The 
Enterprise  and  the  Boxer — Perry  and  the  Battle  of  Lake  Erie 
-  The  Loss  of  the  Essex — The  Loss  of  the  President — The 


viii  CON  IE  NTS. 

Capture  of  the  Cyane  and  the  Levant — The  Capture  of  the 
Penguin — Our  Privateers — General  Results. 

CHAPTER  XII.  THE  MEXICAN  WAR  ....  254 
Texas  and  the  Mexican  Empire — General  Houston  and 
President  Jackson — President  Tyler — Texas  Received  as  a 
State — Mexico  Declares  War — Zachary  Taylor  Takes  Com 
mand  of  Our  Forces  in  Mexico — The  Battles  in  Mexico — 
Santa  Anna  —  General  Fremont  and  California  —  General 
Scotl  Places  the  Flag  Over  the  Palace  of  the  Montezumas 
— President  Polk  —  Peace  Proclaimed — Agreements  with 
Mexico. 


THE  BATTLES  OF  AMERICA. 


CHAPTER  I. 
IN  AND  AROUND  BOSTON  (1775-1776). 

THE  troubles  that  had  for  so  long  existed  between 
the  colonies  and  the  mother  country  culminated  with  the 
Boston  "  Tea  Party's  "  demonstration  of  independence. 
When  the  news  reached  England  that  342  chests  of 
tea  had  been  cast  overboard,  a  howl  of  rage  went  up 
from  the  King,  his  Ministers,  and  the  merchants.  The 
port  of  Boston  was  declared  closed  against  all  com 
merce  till  the  tea  should  be  paid  for.  The  colonists 
realized  that  if  the  port  of  Boston  could  be  closed,  all 
the  ports  from  New  Hampshire  to  Georgia  could  also 
be  closed,  and  the  trade  of  the  entire  country  ruined. 
The  Northern  and  Southern  States  were  drawn  together 
by  this  new  danger.  "  Don't  pay  for  an  ounce  of  their 
damned  tea,"  was  the  message  sent  by  Georgia's 
governor  to  the  patriots  of  Boston.  This  voiced  the 
general  feeling  of  the  entire  community.  Samuel  and 
John  Adams,  Patrick  Henry,  and  James  Otis  by  their 
stirring  and  patriotic  speeches  aroused  the  people  over 
the  whole  land. 

Monday,  September  5,  1774,  was  a  great  and  impor 
tant  day  in  the  annals  of  English  America.  It  was  the 
day  on  which  the  Congress  of  the  United  Provinces  met 
in  solemn  session  at  Philadelphia.  The  Continental 
Congress  had  been  a  great  success.  Its  counsels  and 


'fO     ,  \7£tE   BATTLES   OF  AMERICA. 

resolves  were  ratified  by  all  but  one  of  the  Provincial 
Congresses  and  Legislative  Assemblies,  and  it  was  very 
generally  felt  that  a  protest  of  the  most  authentic  and 
weighty  kind  possible  had  been  made  against  the 
encroachments  of  the  mother  country.  New  York 
refused,  in  its  representative  chamber,  to  recognize 
what  had  been  done  and  affirmed  at  Philadelphia. 
Here  a  large  and  influential  class  was  imbued  with 
royalist  principles.  Many  of  the  rich  colonists  were 


INDEPENDENCE    HALL    IN    1776. 

connected  with  families  of  distinction  in  England,  and 
New  York  City  had  been  the  headquarters  of  the 
British  army  in  America. 

The  soul  of  the  movement  now  rapidly  leading  to 
rebellion  was  undoubtedly  Massachusetts;  but  Virginia 
had  also  a  large  share  in  the  work  of  revolution.  The 
petition  of  the  Continental  Congress  was  presented  to 
King  George  III  by  Benjamin  Franklin  and  the  agents 
of  Massachusetts  only,  the  other  colonial  representa- 


IN  AND  AROUND  BOSTON. 


II 


tives  refusing  to  join.  The  King  promised  that  it 
should  be  presented  to  Parliament,  and  in  the  mean 
while  the  professional  politicians  talked  the  matter 
over,  with  little  agreement  as  to  what  should  be  done. 
The  King  remained  firm  in  his  policy  of  simple  and 
unrelieved  coercion. 


BENJAMIN   FRANKLIN. 

In  February,  1 775,  it  was  resolved  to  raise  the  British 
army  in  Boston  to  io,OOO  men,  and  to  supersede 
General  Gage  by  a  general  of  greater  capacity.  The 
post  was  offered  to  Amherst,  but  he  refused  the  com 
mand,  unless  he  was  placed  at  the  head  of  20,000 
troops.  It  was  next  offered  to  General  Oglethorpe, 


12 


THE  BATTLES   OF  AMERICA. 


who  would  undertake  the  task  only  on  condition  of 
being  furnished  with   powers   of  concession  and   con- 


GEORGE  III,  KING  OF  ENGLAND. 


ciliation,  which  were  denied  him.     The  post  was  finally 
accepted  by  Sir  William  Howe. 

Under  his  command,  Howe  had  two  Major-Generals 
whose  names  became  conspicuous  in  our  history — Henry 


IN  AND  AROUND  BOSTON.  ^ 

Clinton  and  John  Burgoyne.  Clinton  was  a  scion  of 
the  ducal  houses  of  New  Castle  and  Bedford,  and  son 
of  a  former  colonial  Governor  of  New  York.  While 
Burgoyne's  military  abilities  were  not  of  the  highest 
order,  they  were  respectable,  and  his  courage  was 


JOHN  ADAMS. 
(Afterwards  President  of  the  United  States.) 

beyond  reproach.     Howe  had  no  reason  to  be  discon 
tented  with  either  of  his  subordinates. 

Every  week  added  to  the  enthusiasm  of  the  people, 
and  Massachusetts  still  kept  the  lead.  At  a  second 
interview  with  the  American  Commissioners  John 
Adams  was  the  spokesman,  and  said ;  "  If  Great 


!4  THE  BATTLES  OF  AMERICA. 

Britain  were  united,  she  could  not  subdue  a  country 
a  thousand  leagues  off.  How  many  years,  how  many 
millions,  did  it  take  to  conquer  the  poor  province  of 
Canada  ?  "  *  *  *  He  denied  that  the  Parliament  of 
England  had  authority  over  America.  It  had  none  by 
Old  or  New  Testament  law ;  none  by  the  law  of  nature 
or  of  nations ;  none  by  the  common  law  of  England, 
nor  by  statute  law. 

The  winter  wore  away  in  preparations  for  strife  on 
both  sides ;  but  these  preparations  were  far  more 
vigorous  on  the  part  of  the  colonists  than  on  that  of 
the  British  officials.  Assistance  flowed  into  Massa 
chusetts  from  the  other  colonies,  and  a  determination 
to  die  in  defense  of  the  common  liberty  was  very 
generally  expressed.  In  the  North,  Gage  looked  on 
with  indolent  good  nature  which  he  occasionally  varied 
by  unsuccessful  attempts  at  severity.  The  colonists 
lost  no  opportunity  of  irritating  the  authorities  by  every 
demonstration  of  their  sentiment  which  it  was  possible 
to  make.  The  military  were  insulted  with  the  utmost 
elaboration  of  studied  affront.  Any  one  considered  as 
favoring  the  Government  was  liable  to  intimidation  and 
to  actual  outrage.  The  royalist  sympathizers  were 
mobbed  and  terrified,  and  it  was  no  uncommon  spectacle 
to  see  a  particularly  obnoxious  individual,  after  being 
treated  to  a  coat  of  tar  and  feathers,  ridden  on  a  rail  out 
of  the  town. 

LEXINGTON. — General  Gage,  learning  that  the  "  Com 
mittee  of  Supplies  "  appointed  by  the  Provincial  Con 
gress  of  Massachusetts  were,  gathering  military  stores 
at  Concord,  sent  about  800  man,  under  Colonel  Smith 
and  Major  Pitcairn,  to  destroy.them.  Attempts  of  this 
character  had  been  expected,  and  a  strict  watch  was 
kept ;  and  as  signals  were  concerted  to  announce  the  first 
movement  of  troops  for  the  country,  a  timely  message 


!6  THE  BATTLES  OF  AMERICA. 

from  Warren  led  the  Committee  to  remove  a  part  of  the 
stores  and  to  secrete  the  cannon. 

On  April  18,  1775,  ten  sergeants  in  disguise  spread 
themselves  through  Cambridge,  and  farther  west,  to  in 
tercept  all  communication.  In  the  following  night  the 
grenadiers  and  light  infantry  crossed  in  boats  to  East 
Cambridge  and  took  the  road  through  West  Cambridge 
to  Concord. 

"  They  will  miss  their  aim,"  said  one  of  a  party 
who  observed  their  departure.  "  What  aim  !"  asked 
Lord  Percy,  who  overheard  the  remark.  "  The  cannon 
at  Concord,"  was  the  answer.  Percy  hastened  to  Gage 
with  the  news,  who  directed  that  no  one  should  be 
allowed  to  leave  the  town.  But  Warren  had  already 
despatched  William  Dawes  through  Roxbury,  and  Paul 
Revere  by  way  of  Charlestown  to  Lexington. 

Revere  was  stopped  by  two  British  officers,  but  being 
mounted  on  a  fine  horse  he  escaped.  As  he  rode 
through  Medford  he  aroused  the  Captain  of  the  Minute 
men,  and  stopping  at  almost  every  house  on  his  way  to 
Lexington,  the  inhabitants  were  prepared  to  discharge 
the  important  duty  which  was  rapidly  devolving  upon 
them.  Dawes  reached  Lexington  in  safety. 

The  two  friends  were  joined  by  Samuel  Prescott — 
an  active  Son  of  Liberty — and  the  three  rode  forward, 
calling  up  the  people  as  they  passed  along,  till  in  Lin 
coln  they  fell  in  with  a  party  of  British  officers.  Re 
vere  and  Dawes  were  seized  and  taken  back  to  Lex 
ington,  where  they  were  released,  but  Prescott  escaped 
and  galloped  on  towards  Concord,  spreading  the  alarm 
along  the  road,  and  in  the  villages  through  which  he 
passed. 

He  reached  Concord  about  two  o'clock  in  the  morn 
ing,  and  the  alarm  bell,  on  the  belfry  of  the  meet 
ing-house,  brought  together  the  inhabitants,  young  and 
old,  with  their  firelocks,  ready  to  make  good  the 


iS  THE  BATTLES  OF  AMERICA. 

resolute  words  of  their  town  debates.  Messengers 
hurried  out  to  distant  villages,  or  hurried  away  the  stores 
and  provisions,  and  secreted  them  in  the  woods  and 
thickets,  a  load  in  a  place. 

At  Lexington,  by  two  o'clock,  the  village  green  was 
thronged  with  excited  men.  The  aged  stood  shoulder 
to  shoulder  with  their  sons  ;  and  by  their  example  and 
experience  gave  encouragement  and  strength  to  the  un 
disciplined  masses  who  were  present.  130  men  an 
swered  to  their  names.  The  Captain,  John  Parker, 
ordered  every  one  to  load  with  powder  and  ball,  but  to 
take  care  not  to  be  the  first  to  fire.  No  signs  of 
the  approach  of  the  enemy  being  visible,  they  were 
dismissed,  with  orders  to  reassemble  at  the  roll  of  the 
drum. 

About  eleven  o'clock,  the  foremost  party,  led  by 
Pitcairn,  a  major  of  marines,  was  advancing  quickly  and 
in  silence.  Alarm  guns  were  fired,  and  the  drums  beat. 
The  British  seeing  that  their  advance  was  known, 
detached  six  companies  of  light  infantry,  with  orders  to 
press  on,  by  a  forced  march,  to  Concord,  and  secure 
the  two  bridges  over  the  river.  Messengers  were  de 
spatched  to  Boston  for  reinforcements. 

Pitcairn  advanced  rapidly  towards  Lexington,  captur 
ing  several  persons  on  the  way.  One  of  these  escaping, 
hastened  to  Lexington,  and  informed  Captain  Parker  of 
the  approach  of  the  enemy.  The  drums  beat,  and 
about  70,  who  were  in  the  neighborhood,  assembled 
on  the  green,  half  of  whom  were  without  arms.  Parker 
ordered  those  without  arms  to  go  into  the  meeting 
house  and  equip  themselves  and  join  the  company, 
while  those  who  were  armed,  38  in  number,  he  di 
rected  to  follow  him  to  the  north  end  of  the  green, 
where  he  formed  them  in  line,  in  single  file.  Before 
those  who  were  in  the  meeting-house  could  obtain 
arms  and  ammunition,  Pitcairn  and  his  detachment 


2O 


THE  BA  TTLES   OF  AMERICA. 


BRITISH    GRENADIER. 


came  up,  and  wheeled  so 
as  to  cut  the  former  off, 
and  prevented  them  from 
joining  their  comrades  un 
der  Parker. 

Marching  up  by  column 
of  platoons,  the  enemy 
advanced  within  50  feet 
of  the  position  occupied  by 
Parker,  and  there  halted. 
Pitcairn  then  advanced  a 
few  feet  in  front  of  his 
men,  brandished  his  sword, 
and  shouted,  "  Lay  down 
your  arms,  you  damned 
rebels,  or  you  are  all  dead 
men  ;  "  and  immediately 
afterwards,  "  the  rebels " 
failing  to  comply  with  his 
first  order,  he  directed  his 
men  to  "Fire"  The  order 
was  followed  first  by  a  few 
guns,  which  did  no  execu 
tion,  and  then  by  a  close 
and  deadly  discharge  of 
musketry.  In  the  dis 
parity  of  numbers  Parker 
ordered  every  man  to  take 
care  of  himself,and  they  ac 
cordingly  dispersed.  While 
they  were  retreating,  the 
second  platoon  of  the  ene 
my  fired,  killing  several  and 
wounding  others.  Then, 
and  not  till  then,  did  a  few 
of  the  Patriots,  on  their 


IN  AND   AROUND'  BOSTON. 


21 


own  impulse,  return  the 
British  fire.  These  ran 
dom  shots  of  fugitives  or 
dying  men  did  no  harm. 
Seven  of  the  Patriots  were 
killed  and  nine  wounded. 
One  who  was  taken  pris 
oner,  was  shot  in  his  en 
deavor  to  escape. 

Thus  was  the  first  blood 
of  the  American  Patriots 
shed  by  George  III,  and 
from  that  hour  the  domi 
nation  of  England  over 
America  passed  forever 
away.  Thus  was  fought 
the  first  skirmish  for  lib 
erty,  at  Lexington,  on 
April  19,  1775. 

CONCORD. — The  British 
pushed  on  to  Concord, 
and  destroyed  the  stores. 
The  liberty-pole  and  sev 
eral  gun-carriages  were 
burned;  the  Court-house 
took  fire,  but  the  fire  was 
put  out.  The  Patriots  on 
the  rising  ground  above 
Concord  bridge  had  in 
creased  to  more  than  400. 
One  of  them  inquired  ear 
nestly,  "  Will  you  let  them 
burn  down  the  town?" 
An  impromptu  council 
was  held  on  the  spot,  and 


AMERICAN    RIFLEMAN. 


22  THE  BATTLES  OF  AMERICA. 

with  noble  firmness  it  was  resolved  "  to  march  into 
the  middle  of  the  town  for  its  defense,  or  die  in  the 
attempt." 

Colonel  Barrett,  on  horseback  in  the  rear,  gave  orders 
to  advance,  but  not  to  fire  unless  attacked.  "  I  have  not 
a  man  that  is  afraid  to  go,"  said  Isaac  Davis,  of  Acton ; 
and  drawing  his  sword,  he  cried,  "  March  !  "  His  com 
pany  being  on  the  right,  led  the  way  towards  the  bridge, 
he,  himself,  at  their  head,  and  by  his  side  Major  John 
Buttrick,  of  Concord,  followed  by  the  Minute-men  and 
militia,  in  double  file,  trailing  arms.  The  British  began 
to  take  up  the  planks ;  to  prevent  it,  the  Patriots 
quickened  their  steps.  At  this  the  British  fired  one  or 
two  shots  up  the  river  ;  then  another,  by  which  two 
were  wounded.  A  volley  followed,  and  Isaac  Davis, 
and  Abner  Hosmer,  the  deacon's  son,  fell  dead. 

On  seeing  this,  Major  Buttrick  gave  the  orders, 
"Fire,  fellow-soldiers;  for  God's  sake,  fire;"  and  a 
general  discharge  from  the  whole  line  of  the  Patriots 
was  given,  several  of  the  enemy,  including  three  lieu 
tenants,  falling  on  the  spot.  In  two  minutes,  all  was 
hushed.  The  British  retreated  in  disorder  towards  their 
main  body;  the  countrymen  were  left  in  possession 
of  the  bridge.  This  is  the  world-renowned  Battle  of 
Concord ;  more  eventful  than  Agincourt,  or  Blenheim. 

The  Patriots  had  acted  from  impulse.  They  made 
no  pursuit.  The  enemy  observed  their  movements  with 
anxiety  and  alarm.  Everything  indicated  a  spirit  of 
resolute  opposition,  and  the  British  Colonel,  Smith,  pre 
pared  for  a  hasty  retreat.  He  left  the  town  about  noon, 
to  retreat  the  way  he  came,  along  the  hilly  road  that 
wound  through  forests  and  thickets.  The  Patriots  ran 
over  the  hills  opposite  the  battlefield,  and  placed  them 
selves  in  ambush  near  the  junction  of  the  Bedford  road. 
There  they  were  reinforced  by  men  from  all  around, 
and  at  that  point  the  chase  of  the  British  began. 


24  THE  BATTLES  OF  AMERICA. 

Every  piece  of  wood,  every  rock  by  the  wayside, 
served  as  a  lurking  place.  Scarce  ten  of  the  Patriots 
were  at  any  time  seen  together;  yet  the  hills  on  each 
side  seemed  to  the  British  to  swarm  with  "  rebels/'  as 
if  they  had  dropped  from  the  clouds,  and  "  the  road  was 
lined  "  by  an  unintermitted  fire  from  behind  stone  walls 
and  trees. 

At  first  the  invaders  moved  in  order;  but  as  they 
drew  near  Lexington,  their  flanking  parties  became 
ineffective  from  weariness;  the  wounded  were  scarce 
able  to  get  forward.  In  the  west  of  Lexington  a  sharp 
contest  ensued.  The  British  troops,  "greatly  exhausted 
and  fatigued,  and  having  expended  almost  all  their 
ammunition,"  began  to  run  rather  than  retreat  in 
order.  The  officers  vainly  tried  to  stop  their  flight. 
"  They  were  driven  before  the  Americans  like  sheep." 
At  last,  about  two  in  the  afternoon,  about  a  mile  below 
the  field  of  the  morning's  bloodshed,  the  officers  made 
their  way  to  the  front,  and  by  menaces  of  death  began 
to  form  them,  under  a  very  heavy  fire. 

At  that  moment  Lord  Percy  came  in  sight  with  a 
brigade  of  nearly  1200  men,  with  two  field-pieces. 
While  the  cannon  kept  the  Patriots  at  bay,  Percy  formed 
his  detachment  into  a  square,  inclosing  the  fugitives, 
who  lay  down  for  rest  on  the  ground,  "  their  tongues 
hanging  out  of  their  mouths  like  those  of  dogs  after  a 
chase." 

From  this  time,  the  Patriots  had  to  contend  against 
nearly  the  whole  of  the  British  army  in  Boston.  Its 
best  troops,  fully  two-thirds  of  its  whole  number,  and 
more  than  that  proportion  of  its  strength,  were  now 
with  Percy.  And  yet  delay  was  sure  to  prove  ruinous. 
The  British  must  fly  speedily  and  fleetly,  or  be  over 
whelmed. 

From  far  and  wide  Minute-men  were  gathering.  The 
men  of  Dedham  went  forth  in  such  numbers  that  scarce 


26  THE  BATTLES   OF  AMERICA. 

one  male  between  1 6  and  70  was  left  at  home.  That 
morning-  William  Prescott  mustered  his  regiment;  and 
though  Pepperell  was  so  remote  that  he  could  not  be  in 
season  for  the  pursuit,  he  hastened  down  with  five  com 
panies  of  guards.  Before  noon,  a  messenger  rode  at 
full  speed  into  Worcester,  crying,  "  To  Arms ! "  A 
fresh  horse  was  brought,  and  the  tidings  went  on;  while 
the  men  of  that  town  kept  on  the  march  till  they  reached 
Cambridge. 

Aware  of  his  perilous  position,  Percy  rested  for  half 
an  hour,  and  renewed  the  retreat.  He  was  exposed  to 
a  fire  on  each  side,  in  front,  and  from  behind.  The 
Patriots,  who  were  good  marksmen,  would  lie  down  con 
cealed  to  load  their  guns  in  one  place,  and  discharge 
them  at  another,  running  from  front  to  flank,  and  from 
flank  to  rear. 

Beyond  Lexington,  the  troops  were  attacked  by  men 
chiefly  from  Essex,  and  the  lower  towns.  At  West 
Cambridge,  Joseph  Warren  and  William  Heath  gave  for 
a  time  some  little  appearance  of  organization,  and  the 
fight  grew  sharper  and  more  determined.  A  musket- 
ball  grazed  the  head  of  \Varren,  who  was  ever  in  the 
place  of  greatest  danger.  The  British  became  more 
and  more  "  exasperated,"  and  indulged  in  savage  cruelty. 
Of  the  Patriots  there  were  never  more  than  400  together 
at  any  one  time;  but,  as  some  grew  tired  or  used  up 
their  ammunition,  others  took  their  places,  and,  though 
there  was  not  much  concert  or  discipline,  and  no  attack 
with  masses,  the  pursuit  never  flagged. 

Below  West  Cambridge,  the  militia  from  Dorchester, 
Roxbury,  and  Brookline  came  up.  The  British  field- 
pieces  now  lost  their  terror,  and  the  patriots  pressed 
upon  the  rear  of  the  fugitives,  whose  retreat  could  not 
become  more  precipitate.  Had  it  been  delayed  a  half 
hour  longer,  or  had  Pickering,  with  his  fine  regiment 
from  Salem,  Danvers,  and  Marblehead,  been  alert  to 


2g  THE  BATTLES   OF  AMERICA. 

have  intercepted  them  in  front,  it  was  thought  that, 
worn  down  as  they  were  by  fatigue  and  exhausted  of 
ammunition,  they  must  have  surrendered.  But  a  little 
after  sunset,  the  survivors  escaped  across  Charlestown 
Neck. 

The  fighting  had  continued  at  its  hottest  for  seven 
hours,  and  the  result  contributed  to  raise  the  spirits  and 
confidence  of  the  Patriots,  and  to  depress  the  British. 
The  news  of  what  had  been  accomplished  was  carried 
by  mounted  messengers  from  town  to  town  in  every 
direction,  so  that  in  a  remarkably  short  time  the  fact 
was  known  all  over  the  land.  The  enthusiastic  response 
it  awakened  was  proof  conclusive  that  the  whole  of  the 
Colonies  from  Maine  to  Georgia,  and  from  the  Atlantic 
to  the  western  prairies,  were  ripe  for  revolt. 

Percy's  troops  had  marched  30  miles  in  ten  hours ; 
and  the  party  under  Smith  had  retreated  20  miles  in 
six  hours ;  the  guns  of  the  ships-of-war  and  a  menace 
to  burn  the  town  of  Charlestown  saved  them  from 
annoyance  during  their  rest  on  Bunker  Hill  and  while 
they  were  ferried  across  Charles  River. 

The  loss  of  the  Patriots,  exclusive  of  those  already 
accounted  as  being  killed  at  Lexington,  in  the  morning, 
was  85  killed,  wounded,  and  missing.  The  loss  of  the 
British  in  killed,  wounded,  and  missing  was  273;  greater 
than  in  the  battle  before  Quebec,  where  Wolfe  fell. 
Among  the  wounded  were  many  officers. 

All  the  following  night,  the  men  of  Massachusetts 
streamed  in  from  scores  of  miles  around,  old  men  as 
well  as  young.  They  had  scarce  a  semblance  of  artillery 
or  warlike  stores,  no  powder,  no  organization,  nor 
provisions ;  but  they  were  there,  thousands  with  brave 
hearts,  determined  to  rescue  the  liberties  of  their  country. 
"  The  night  preceding  the  outrages  at  Lexington,  there 
were  not  fifty  people  in  the  whole  colony  that  ever 
expected  any  blood  would  be  shed  in  the  contest;"  the 


IN  AND  AROUND  BOSTON.  2y 

night  after,  the  King's  government  and  the  King's  army 
found  themselves  closely  beleaguered  in  Boston;  and  the 
power  of  the  royal  governors  was  broken  from  Massa 
chusetts  to  Georgia. 

BUNKER'S  HILL  (June  17,  1775). — The  Minute  men 
and  the  militiamen  who  had  hurried  to  Boston,  on 
receipt  of  the  news  from  Lexington,  had  gradually 


RATTLESNAKE    FLAG,    USED    AT   THE    BEGINNING   OF    THE    REVOLUTION. 

returned  to  their  homes,  and  their  places  were  filled 
with  troops  enlisted  for  terms  of  service,  varying 
from  three  to  twelve  months  in  extent.  It  was  "  a 
mixed  multitude,"  as  yet,  under  very  little  discipline, 
order,  or  government.  There  were  the  materials 
for  a  good  army  in  the  private  men,  of  whom 
great  numbers  were  able-bodied,  active,  and  unques 
tionably  brave,  and  there  were  also  officers  worthy  of 


•p  THE  BATTLES   OF  AMERICA. 

leading  such  men.  There  was  a  great  want  of  money 
and  of  clothing,  of  engineers  ;  but  above  all,  of  ammuni 
tion.  The  scanty  store  of  powder  was  reserved  for  the 
small  arms,  and  used  with  great  frugality.  Greene  and 
Putnam  worked  like  beavers ;  inciting  the  men  and 
encouraging  them.  General  Ward  was  placed  in  com 
mand.  His  age  and  infirmities  combined  to  increase 
the  caution  which  the  state  of  the  camp  made  imperative. 
He  was  unwilling  to  hazard  defeat,  and  inclined  to  wait 
the  solution  of  events  from  the  negotiations  of  the  Con 
tinental  Congress.  It  was  suggested  that  Cambridge 
could  not  be  held,  and  that  it  would  be  wiser  to  go  back 
and  fortify  on  the  heights  of  Brookline.  "  We  must 
hold  Cambridge,"  was  Putnam's  constant  reply,  and  he 
repeatedly  but  vainly  asked  leave  to  advance  the  lines 
to  Prospect  Hill. 

The  dishonorable  position  which  the  King's  army 
was  compelled  to  occupy  was  galling.  "Bloody  work" 
was  expected,  and  it  was  rumored  that  they  were  deter 
mined  to  lay  the  country  waste  with  fire  and  sword. 
George  III  was  counting  the  days  necessary  for  the 
voyage  of  his  transports  that  were  to  "  disperse  the 
rebels,  destroy  their  works,  open  up  a  communication 
with  the  country,  and  imprison  the  leading  patriots  of 
the  colony." 

The  Committee  of  Safety  decided  "  that  Bunker's 
Hill  be  maintained  by  sufficient  force  being  posted 
there;"  and  accordingly  on  June  16,  measures  were 
taken  to  occupy  and  hold  the  hill.  The  regiments 
under  Prescott,  Frye,  and  Bridge,  all  of  Massachusetts, 
and  200  Connecticut  troops  under  Captain  Knowlton, 
were  ordered  to  parade  on  Cambridge  Common,  at  six 
o'clock  in  the  evening.  With  these  were  Captain  Grid- 
ley's  company  of  artillery  of  49  men  and  two  field-pieces. 
The  men  took  their  packs  and  blankets,  with  provisions 
for  24  hours,  and  the  entrenching  tools  belonging  to  the 


GENERAL   ISRAEL   PUTNAM. 


32  THE  BATTLES   OF  AMERICA. 

camp.  The  character  of  the  service  they  were  to  per 
form  was  not  divulged  even  to  the  officers.  At  the 
appointed  time  nearly  1000  men  appeared  on  the  Com 
mon;  and  the  command  was  assumed  by  Colonel 
William  Prescott,  to  whom  written  orders  had  been 
given  by  General  Ward. 

Langdon,  the  president  of  Harvard  College,  who  was 
one  of  the  chaplains  to  the  army,  prayed  with  them  fer 
vently ;  then,  as  the  late  darkness  closed  in,  they  marched 
for  Charlestown  in  the  face  of  the  proclamation,  issued 
only  four  days  before,  by  which  all  persons  taken  in 
arms  against  their  sovereign,  were  threatened  under 
martial  law  with  "  death  by  the  cord  as  rebels  and 
traitors."  Prescott  and  his  men  were  the  first  to  give 
the  menace  defiance.  For  himself,  he  was  resolved 
"  never  to  be  taken  alive." 

The  Committee  had  recommended  Bunker's  Hill,  but 
Prescott  had  "  received  orders  to  march  to  Breed's  Hill, 
as  being  the  more  commanding  site."  Heedless  of 
personal  danger,  he  obeyed  the  orders,  which  better 
suited  the  daring  spirits  of  his  companions. 

The  lines  of  a  redoubt,  about  eight  rods  square,  were 
accordingly  drawn  on  Breed's  Hill,  and  work  was  begun. 
The  bells  of  Boston  struck  twelve  before  the  first  sod 
was  thrown  up.  Then  every  man  of  the  thousand  seized 
in  his  turn  the  pickaxe  and  the  spade,  and  they  plied 
their  tools  with  such  expedition,  that  rapidly  and  surely 
the  breastwork  "  assumed  form,  and  height,  and  capacity 
for  defense." 

The  day  was  the  hottest  of  the  season.  After  their 
fatigues  through  the  night,  the  Patriots  might  all  have 
pleaded  their  unfitness  for  action  ;  some,  indeed,  left 
the  post.  Yet  Prescott  was  dismayed  neither  by  fatigue 
nor  desertion.  "  Let  us  never  consent  to  being  relieved," 
he  said  to  his  own  regiment  and  to  those  who  remained; 
"these  are  the  works  of  our  own  hands;  to  us  be  the 


THE  DEFENCE  OF  BREED'^   HILL:     PRESCOTT  IN  THE   REDOUBT. 


34 


THE  BATTLES   OF  AMERICA. 


honor  of  defending  them."  He  despatched  repeated 
messengers  for  reinforcements  and  provisions;  but  at 
the  hour  of  noon  no  assistance  had  appeared. 

About  three  o'clock  the  British  troops  advanced  to 
the  assault.  They  marched  under  cover  of  a  heavy 
fire  of  cannon  and  howitzers.  Howe  was  in  command 
of  the  right  wing,  and  it  was  arranged  that  he  should 
attack  the  "  rebels  "  in  flank,  while  Pigot,  who  had  the 
left  wing,  should  assail  the  southern  front  of  the  redoubt. 
They  moved  slowly,  in  order  that  the  artillery  should 
produce  full  effect  on  the  works ;  and  in  a  little  while 
Pigot  found  that  his  left  flank  was  being  severely  galled 
by  the  Patriot  riflemen  posted  in  houses  in  Charlestown, 
which  lay  below  the  position  of  the  insurgents.  Howe 
therefore  sent  over  orders  to  Clinton  and  Burgoyne,  who 
remained  on  the  Boston  peninsula,  to  set  fire  to  the 
village,  which  was  done  by  the  discharge  of  shells  from 
Copp's  Hill.  The  buildings  in  Charlestown,  some  500  in 
number,  were  all  constructed  of  wood,  and  the  blaze  of 
their  ignition  flared  far  and  wide  over  the  neighborhood 
and  the  surrounding  country,  attracting  crowds  of 
spectators,  who  assembled  on  the  hills,  on  the  roofs  of 
the  houses  in  Boston,  on  the  tops  of  the  church-towers, 
and  on  the  masts  of  the  shipping,  to  watch  the  grand 
but  terrible  spectacle. 

Howe's  military  dispositions  were  commended  by 
Burgoyne  as  "soldier-like  and  perfect;"  and  he  was 
well  seconded  by  his  men.  The  troops  under  Pigot 
ascended  the  rising  ground  towards  the  redoubt  steadily 
and  in  good  order.  The  fire  of  their  small  arms  did 
little  damage,  as  they  aimed  too  high  and  began  too 
soon ;  and  Prescott  ordered  his  men  to  reserve  their 
return  volley  until  "  the  whites  of  the  men's  eyes  could 
be  seen."  When  he  thought  the  British  near  enough, 
he  exclaimed  "  Fire  !  " — and  volley  after  volley  was 
poured  into  their  ranks,  causing  them  to  fly  in  disorder 


IN  AND  AROUND  BOSTON.  ^ 

to  their  boats.  They  soon  rallied ;  but  the  Patriots  firtd 
again  and  again,  loading  under  cover,  and  springing  up 
on  the  wall  of  the  redoubt  to  deliver  their  shots.  These 
rapid  volleys  were  replied  to  by  the  regulars  with  spirit, 
and  a  fierce  combat  went  on  for  ten  minutes.  The 
Patriots  determined  to  sustain  the  reputation  for  courage 
which  they  had  won  at  Concord,  and  delivered  their  fire 
with  the  same  deadly  effect.  After  awhile,  the  British 
line  wavered  and  gave  way;  the  whole  mass  staggering 
in  disorderly  heaps  down  the  side  of  the  hill,  and 
crowding  tumultuously  on  the  shore,  close  to  the  land 
ing-place. 

Meanwhile,  the  column  under  Howe  was  attacking 
the  spur  of  the  redoubt  that  ran  north  towards  the 
Mystic  and  presented  its  face  to  the  east.  Having 
arrived  within  eighty  yards  of  the  rail  fence,  the  troops 
deployed  into  line  with  coolness  and  precision.  The 
Patriots  under  the  command  of  Stark  and  Knowlton 
reserved  their  fire  with  the  same  quiet  self- restraint  that 
their  comrades  at  the  chief  redoubt  had  shown.  Rest 
ing  their  guns  on  the  rail  in  front  of  them,  they  dis 
charged,  at  the  proper  moment,  a  heavy  volley,  from 
which  the  British,  as  at  the  other  position,  recoiled  in 
disorder  until  they  reached  such  shelter  as  they  could 
find.  In  about  a  quarter  of  an  hour,  the  detachment 
under  Pigot  was  again  ready  to  advance  against  the 
south  face  of  the  redoubt.  The  men  had  been  rallied 
by  their  officers,  who  were  seen  pushing  them  forward 
at  the  sword's  point.  They  advanced  the  second  time 
with  some  reluctance,  but,  getting  within  musket-shot, 
pressed  on  with  spirit.  The  Patriot  voile)/,  delivered 
this  time  at  still  closer  quarters  than  before,  was  after 
wards  described  by  Prescott  as  like  a  "  continuous 
stream  of  fire ;  "  and  it  produced  a  terrible  effect  on  the 
British.  Again  they  wavered  and  broke.  The  bottom 
of  the  hill  was  once  more  sought  in  headlong  flight; 

Independence — 3 


36  THE  BATTLES   OF  AMERICA. 

yet  the  wall  of  the  redoubt  had  been  very  nearly  gained; 
some  of  the  dead  and  dying  lay  within  a  few  yards  of  it. 
A  second  advance  was  made  against  the  flank  by 
Howe's  division.  The  Grenadiers  and  Light  Infantry 
marched  close  up  to  the  fence,  but  were  unable  to  carry 
it.  Some  of  the  companies  lost  as  many  as  nine-tenths 
of  their  numbers  as  soon  as  they  presented  themselves. 
In  several  instances,  not  more  than  three  or  four  men 
were  left  in  a  company,  so  terrible  was  the  fire.  The 
dead,  as  Colonel  Stark  testified,  "  lay  as  thick  as  sheep 
within  a  fold."  So  many  of  the  officers  were  killed, 
that  for  a  while  Howe  was  left  nearly  alone ;  yet  the 
struggle  was  maintained.  The  guns  of  the  ships  in  the 
harbor,  and  the  artillery  of  the  batteries  planted  on  the 
opposite  shore,  continued  to  ply  with  vigor  ;  but  towards 
the  end  of  the  action  the  field-pieces  were  reduced 
to  silence  for  want  of  ammunition,  and  the  infantry 
were  left  to  do  their  work  without  the  aid  which 
field  artillery  would  have  afforded  them.  The  Patriot 
ammunition  also  was  very  nearly  exhausted  after  the 
defeat  of  the  second  attack.  The  Committee  of  Safety 
insisted  that  every  shot  ought  to  kill  a  man,  and  that  a 
lavish  supply  of  powder  would  only  tempt  the  men  to 
neglect  accuracy  of  aim,  and  thus  throw  away  their  fire. 
They  had  therefore  omitted  to  furnish  fresh  supplies, 
and,  although  there  had  been  no  waste,  the  stock  was 
now  almost  at  an  end.  They  had  but  few  bayonets 
among  them,  and  the  chances  of  a  third  assault  looked 
unpromising  for  the  Patriots.  The  powder  in  some 
artillery  cartridges  was  distributed,  and  injunctions  given 
not  to  waste  a  grain  of  it.  Prescott  hoped  that,  if  the 
British  could  be  repulsed  a  third  time,  their  rout  would 
be  final  and  complete.  Howe  was  resolved  not  to  be 
beaten,  and  he  made  a  fresh  disposition  of  his  forces,  so 
as  to  deliver  a  simultaneous  attack  on  three  sides  of 
the  position.  He  was  enabled  to  do  this  by  an  unex- 


DF.ATH    OK    VTA  TOR    PITPAIBM. 


38  THE  BATTLES    OF  AMERICA. 

pected  arrival  of  reinforcements.  Clinton,  having  ob 
served  from  Copp's  Hill  the  very  critical  posture  of 
affairs,  had,  on  his  own  authority,  started  for  the  scene 
of  action  at  the  head  of  two  battalions,  including  a  body 
of  marines.  The  whole  force  was  now  divided  between 
the  south,  the  east,  and  the  north  sides  of  the  entrench 
ment;  and  the  three  divisions  moved  forward  to  the 
supreme  effort. 

The  Patriots  had  retired  to  the  inner  part  of  the  fort, 
the  outer  lines  being  raked  by  the  batteries.  Once 
again  they  waited  with  calm  self-possession  the  near  ap 
proach  of  the  enemy ;  then,  as  before,  a  terrific  fire 
leaped  forth  with  that  concentration  and  regularity 
which  made  them  the  best  marksmen  in  the  world. 
But  this  time,  after  a  momentary  pause,  the  British,  in 
stead  of  giving  way,  sprang  forward,  without  any  return 
volley,  to  the  outer  wall.  The  Patriot  fire  grew  less  and 
less,  and  presently  almost  ceased.  On  the  southern 
side  of  the  redoubt,  the  front  rank  of  the  assailing  force 
scaled  the  parapet  with  a  rush.  Many  were  shot  down  ; 
among  them,  Major  Pitcairn,  the  officer  associated  with 
Lexington,  who  fell  mortally  wounded.  But  the  regu 
lars,  now  that  they  had  surmounted  the  breastwork, 
rushed  on  with  impetuosity.  Driven  to  desperation, 
and  devoid  of  ammunition,  the  colonists  clubbed  their 
muskets,  and  struck  wildly  at  the  foe,  who  pressed  on, 
and  carried  the  redoubt  at  the  point  of  the  bayonet. 
The  superiority  of  the  British  in  numbers  was  so  great, 
that  at  four  o'clock,  Prescott  was  compelled  to  order  a 
retreat,  and  the  Patriots  fled  from  the  position  they  had 
so  long  and  gallantly  defended,  and  made  in  the  direc 
tion  of  Bunker's  Hill.  "  Nothing,"  wrote  a  British 
officer,  "  could  be  more  shocking  than  the  carnage  that 
followed  the  storming  of  this  work.  We  tumbled  over 
the  dead  to  get  at  the  living,  who  were  crowding  out  of 
the  gorge  of  the  redoubt  in  order  to  form  under  the 


BATTLE   OF    BUNKER  S    HILL. 


40 


THE  BATTLES   OF  AMERICA. 


defenses  which  they  had  prepared  to  cover  their  retreat." 
Prescott  was  the  last  to  leave  the  fort.  Though  his  coat 
and  waistcoat  were  rent  with  bayonet-thrusts,  which  he 
parried  with  his  sword,  he  got  off  unhurt.  The  British 
had  burst  in,  and  for  a  few  minutes  the  redoubt  was  a 
mob  of  raging  combatants,  wildly  intermingled.  But 
the  Patriots  fought  their  way  out,  and  escaped  under  a 
cloud  of  dust  which  their  trampling  feet  beat  up  from 
the  parched  and  pulverized  soil.  Their  retreat  was 
aided  by  the  obstinacy  with  which  the  Connecticut  and 
New  Hampshire  companies,  under  Knowlton  and  Stark, 
held  the  outlying  defense  in  the  direction  of  the  Mystic. 
As  soon  as  the  main  body  had  left  Breed's  Hill,  these 
auxiliaries  also  retired.  Utterly  worn  out  by  the  events 
of  the  day — by  their  two  unsuccessful  attempts  to  carry 
the  enemy's  entrenchments,  and  their  final  success — the 
British  could  do  no  more  than  make  a  show  of  pursuit; 
but  the  fugitives  suffered  severely,  in  passing  Charlestovvn 
Neck,  from  the  cross-fire  of  two  floating  batteries  and 
a  man-of-war.  Of  six  pieces  of  artillery,  the  Patriots 
were  able  to  carry  off  but  one.  The  loss  was  but  slight, 
considering  the  length  and  vehemence  of  the  contest. 
It  is  set  down  at  145  killed  and  missing,  and  304 
wounded.  Among  the  killed  was  Joseph  Warren,  one 
of  the  most  active  and  distinguished  of  the  Patriots. 
He  was  among  the  last  in  the  trenches,  and  fell,  shot 
through  the  head,  as  the  retreat  began.  The  Congress 
of  Massachusetts  expressed  the  sense  of  the  whole 
country,  when  it  declared  its  "  veneration  for  Joseph 
Warren,  whose  memory  is  endeared  to  his  countrymen, 
and  to  the  worthy  in  every  part  and  age  of  the  world, 
so  long  as  virtue  and  valor  shall  be  esteemed  among 
men." 

The  cost  of  the  battle  on  the  side  of  the  British  was 
very  serious.  More  than  a  third  of  the  forces  engaged 
were  slain  or  disabled.  The  killed  were  above  220  in 


IN  AND  AROUND  BOSTON.  4! 

number  ;  the  wounded,  more  than  820.  Gage,  in  his  re 
port  of  the  event,  made  some  observations  that  must  have 
opened  the  eyes  of  English  statesmen  to  the  serious 
nature  of  the  task  they  had  undertaken.  He  wrote  : — 
"  The  success,  which  was  very  necessary  in  our  present 


GENERAL   GAGE. 

condition,  cost  us  dear.  The  number  of  killed  and 
wounded  is  greater  than  our  forces  can  afford  to  lose. 
We  have  lost  some  extremely  good  officers.  The  trials 
we  have  had  show  the  rebels  are  not  the  despicable  rab 
ble  too  many  have  supposed  them  to  be,  and  I  find  it 
owing  to  a  military  spirit  encouraged  among  them  for  a 


42  THE  BATTLES   OF  AMERICA. 

few  years  past,  joined  with  uncommon  zeal  and  enthu 
siasm.  They  entrench,  and  raise  batteries;  they  have 
engineers.  They  have  fortified  all  the  heights  and 
passes  around  this  town,  which  it  is  not  impossible  for 
them  to  annoy.  The  conquest  of  this  country  is  not 
easy  ;  you  have  to  cope  with  vast  numbers.  In  all  their 
wars  against  the  French,  they  never  showed  so  much  con 
duct,  attention,  and  perseverance,  as  they  do  now.  I  think 
it  my  duty  to  let  you  know  the  true  situation  of  affairs." 
The  retreat  was  no  worse  than  such  movements  com 
monly  are;  it  was  better  than  some  in  which  disciplined 
troops  have  been  concerned.  The  fugitives  were  met 
by  Putnam  on  the  northern  side  of  Bunker's  Hill.  He 
had  been  trying  to  collect  reinforcements,  and  now  as 
sumed  the  command  of  the  discomfited  regiments. 

o 

Uniting  them  with  a  detachment  of  fresh  troops,  he 
encamped  for  the  night  on  Prospect  Hill. 

The  British  forces  entrenched  themselves,  on  the 
ni«iit  of  Tune  17,  at  the  summit  of  Breed's  Hill,  Iving 

o  •/  /  *  "      ^          o 

down  on  the  ground  they  had  conquered.  Their  vic 
tory  was  one  of  a  very  barren  nature.  They  were 
unable  to  continue  the  pursuit  beyond  the  isthmus. 
They  had  brought  their  best  forces  into  the  field  ;  more 

J  o 

than  a  third  of  those  engaged  lay  dead  or  bleeding,  and 
the  survivors  were  fatigued  and  overawed  by  the 
courage  of  their  adversaries.  The  battle  put  an  end  to 
all  offensive  operations  on  the  part  of  Gage. 

Though  termed  a  defeat  in  military  language,  it  had 
all  the  effect  of  a  great  moral  victory.  From  it  the 
Patriots  acquired  self-confidence  and  self-reliance. 
They  convinced  their  adversaries  that  they  could  fight ; 
and  to  the  nations  of  Europe  they  presented  the 
spectacle  of  a  united  people,  resolved  to  establish  their 
independence  at  whatever  cost  of  bloodshed.  Frank 
lin,  on  hearing  of  the  event,  wrote  to  his  friends  in 
England  that  Great  Britain  has  lost  her  colonies  forever. 


IN  AND  AROUND  BOSTON.  4* 

SIEGE  OF  BOSTON  (April  19,  1775,  to  March  17,  1776). 
At  the  very  same  time  that  the  forces  of  New  Eng 
land  were  withstanding  British  troops  in  the  vicinity 
of  Boston,  the  Continental  Congress  was  engaged  in 
nominating  four  Major-Generals  to  act  under  Washing 
ton  in  command  of  the  regiments  that  were  to  be 
raised  by  the  whole  of  the  provinces.  The  first  of 
these  was  Artemas  Ward,  who,  notwithstanding  his 
age  and  infirmities,  answered,  "  I  always  have  been  and 
am  still  ready  to  devote  my  life  in  attempting  to 
deliver  my  native  country."  The  second  was  Charles 
Lee,  an  officer  in  the  Royal  army  who  quitted  England 
because  preferment  had  been  denied  to  him.  He  had 
seen  service  in  Portugal,  Poland,  and  Turkey ;  never 
theless  he  was  an  unfortunate  selection.  He  was  a 
man  of  ambitious  desires  and  jealous  disposition, 
gloomy  and  irritable,  and  too  prone  to  aristocratic  and 
despotic  ideas  in  politics  to  work  harmoniously  with  the 
democratic  institutions  then  taking  shape  here.  The 
third  was  Philip  Schuyler  of  New  York;  a  man  of 
great  consideration  in  his  own  province,  of  high  charac 
ter,  and  unquestioned  patriotism  ;  yet  in  some  respects 
unsuited  to  military  command.  Israel  Putnam,  of 
Connecticut,  was  the  fourth  selection.  He  was  famous 
for  deeds  of  personal  prowess  ;  and  his  acknowledged 
courage,  adventurous  life,  and  ardent  support  of  the 
rights  of  the  colonies  had  made  him  very  popular  with 
the  people. 

Horatio  Gates  was  made  an  Adjutant-General  with 
the  rank  of  Brigadier.  He  had  served  in  the  British 
army.  Besides  these,  eight  brigadier-generals  were 
appointed  :  Seth  Pomroy,  of  Massachusetts  ;  Richard 
Montgomery,  of  New  York ;  David  Wooster,  of  Con 
necticut ;  William  Heath,  of  Massachusetts;  Joseph 
Spencer,  of  Connecticut;  John  Thomas,  of  Massachu 
setts  ;  John  Sullivan,  of  New  Hampshire ;  and 


44 


THE  BATTLES   OF  AMERICA. 


Nathaniel  Greene,  of  Rhode  Island :  all,  with  one  ex 
ception,  men  of  New  England  birth.  Montgomery  was 
an  Irishman. 

Washington  quitted  Philadelphia  June  23,  1775,  and 
on  July  2  reached  the  camp  before  Boston,  where  his 
great  organizing  genius  was  exercised  in  getting  into 
form  and  consistency  the  chaotic  mass  of  raw  material 
of  which  the  Patriot  army  consisted. 

The  opposing  armies  were  encamped  very  near  one 
another.  The  British  occupied  not  only  Boston,  but 
the  whole  of  Charlestown  peninsula,  their  sentries  ex 
tending  a  short  distance  beyond  the  Neck.  Redoubts 
and  batteries  were  scattered  about,  and  7000  highly 
disciplined  and  seasoned  troops  stood  prepared  for  any 
further  action.  The  Patriots  were  posted  in  a  semi-circle 
from  the  west  end  of  Dorchester  to  Maiden,  a  distance 
of  nine  miles.  The  centre  of  the  line  was  at  Cam 
bridge,  where  Ward  commanded ;  and  all  about  the 
little  towns,  and  country  ways,  and  steep  passes  between 
hill  and  hill,  were  defensive  works,  contrived  with  great 
tact.  Some  of  the  men  were  lodged  in  tents  ;  others 
in  huts,  made  of  boards,  sailcloth,  turf,  brushwood, 
reeds,  or  anything  that  came  to  hand;  others,  again, 
in  regular  dwelling-houses. 

The  men  were  kept  at  labor  even  on  Sundays, 
strengthening  the  lines,  and  fortifying  weak  places. 
These  engineering  works  were  planned  and  executed  by 
Henry  Knox,  of  Boston,  who  had  been  appointed  to 
the  command  of  a  battalion  of  artillery,  and  who  in 
time  introduced  so  much  improvement  into  the 
American  ordnance,  that  some  of  the  best  judges  in 
Europe  expressed  their  admiration  of  his  genius.  The 
whole  number  of  effectives  under  Washington  were 
about  14,000.  Of  these  many  were  very  inferior 
soldiers;  but  altogether,  the  force  \vhen  organized 
promised  well  for  the  future  of  the  colonies.  There  was 


IN  AND  AROUND  BOSTON. 


45 


a  deal  of  excellent  material ;  and  it  only  needed  educat 
ing  and  the  stern  rigors  of  command. 

As  winter  wore  on,  the  difficulties  of  Washington  in 
creased  ;  for  his  army  was  still  raw  and  undisciplined, 
his  resources  grew  less  with  the  growing  de 
mands  on  them,  and  the  distracted  counsels  of  his  sub- 


GENERAL   WILLIAM    HOWE. 


ordinates  were  more  than  ever  bewildering  and  vexa 
tious.  He  had  obtained  some  guns  and  a  stock  of 
powder,  and  would  have  advanced  over  the  ice  to 
Boston,  or  approached  it  in  boats,  if  he  could  have 
gained  the  co-operation  of  his  officers;  but,  finding  his 
project  was  not  supported,  he  was  obliged  to  content 


46 


THE  BATTLES   OF  AMERICA. 


himself  with  watching  the  enemy  and  maturing  plans 
for  the  future.  The  British  commanders  were  expecting 
reinforcements,  and  contemplating  a  removal  to  New 
York  when  they  should  receive  them.  Washington  re 
solved  to  furnish  his  opponents  with  employment  of  a 
serious  character;  and  he  now  conceived  the  design  of 
occupying  Dorchester  Heights,  a  line  of  hills  stretching 
along  a  peninsula  to  the  south  of  Boston,  the  possession 
of  which  would  give  him  the  command  of  the  city,  and 
to  some  extent  of  the  harbor.  He  hoped  in  this  way 
to  bring  on  a -general  action,  by  compelling  Howe  to 
attempt  his  expulsion  from  a  position  of  so  important  a 
nature;  and  it  was  part  of  his  design  to  take  advantage 
of  the  struggle  to  cross  with  a  portion  of  his  forces 
from  the  Cambridge  side  of  the  river  Charles,  and 
attack  Boston  itself.  The  Patriot  army  now  amounted 
to  14,000  men,  reckoning  those  who  were  regarded  as 
regular  troops ;  and,  in  addition  to  these,  Washington 
had  called  into  active  service  about  6000  of  the  Massa 
chusetts  militia.  The  available  forces  under  Howe  were 
about  8000  men.  Boston  was  literally  a  trap  to  the 
British  forces  confined  there,  and  Howe  was  anxious 
for  the  moment  when  he  could  quit  the  locality  and  gain 
the  more  loyal  province  of  New  York,  whence  opera 
tions  could  be  conducted  with  greater  prospect  of  suc 
cess. 

Washington  opened  proceedings  on  March  5th,  the  an 
niversary  of  "the  Boston  Massacre."  On  the  nights  of 
March  2d,  3d,  and  4th,  he  bombarded  the  British  lines, 
as  a  means  of  diverting  attention  from  his  real  object. 
During  the  night  of  the  4th,  under  cover  of  darkness, 
and  of  the  cannonade  which  was  vigorously  kept  up 
from  several  points,  and  as  warmly  replied  to  by  the 
British,  though  without  much  effect  on  either  side, 
Washington  moved  towards  the  high  ground  which  he 
proposed  to  occupy.  His  dispositions  had  been  made 


IN  AND  AROUND   BOSTON.  47 

with  great  skill,  and  every  man  beforehand  was 
thoroughly  instructed  in  his  work.  The  troops  were 
accompanied  by  carts  with  trenching  tools,  and  bundles 
of  screwed  hay  were  sent  over  the  frozen  marshes,  to  be 
used  in  the  construction  of  works  of  defense  in  default 
of  earth,  which  could  not  be  obtained  owing  to  the 
frozen  state  of  the  ground.  The  unceasing  roar  of  the 
great  guns,  and  the  whizzing  of  shells  as  they  cut  their 
way  through  the  dark  and  frozen  air,  drowned  the  noise 
of  Washington's  troops  moving  from  the  vicinity  of 
Cambridge  to  that  of  Dorchester.  This  great  advantage 
was  obtained  at  a  cost  of  but  two  men,  and  of  the 
bursting  of  five  mortars.  Having  gained  the  Heights, 
the  Patriots  worked  with  unflinching  assiduity,  and  the 
teams  of  bullock-wagons  went  to  and  fro,  bringing  up 
fresh  supplies  for  the  works.  At  three  o'clock  on  the 
morning  of  the  5th,  the  first  working  party  was  relieved  ; 
and  by  dawn,  when  at  length  the  bombardment  ceased, 
a  formidable  line  of  fortifications  was  apparent  to  the  as 
tonished  eyes  of  Howe  and  his  army.  On  each  of  the 
two  hills  where  Washington  had  taken  his  station, 
strong  redoubts  had  been  run  up ;  the  foot  of  the  ridge 
was  protected  by  an  abatis  of  felled  trees ;  and  at  the 
top  were  several  barrels  filled  with  earth  and  stones, 
which  could  be  tolled  down  on  the  advancing  lines. 

Howe  exclaimed  that  the  besiegers  had  done  more 
in  a  night  than  his  men  would  have  accomplished  in  a 
month.  He  resolved,  by  the  advice  of  a  council  of  war, 
to  attack  the  enemy  at  once.  Admiral  Shuldham,  who 
commanded  the  fleet,  declared  that  unless  the  New 
Englanders  were  dislodged  he  could  not  keep  a  ship  in 
the  harbor.  Howe  was  encouraged  in  his  determination 
to  assault  the  lines  (hazardous  as  he  confessed  the  enter 
prise  to  be)  by  the  ardor  of  his  troops,  who,  as  he  re 
ported,  were  eager  to  try  conclusions  with  n  foe  they 
had  already  vanquished,  though  with  difficulty,  a* 


48  THE  BATTLES   OF  AMERICA. 

Breed's  Hill.  Under  the  direction  of  Earl  Percy  2400 
men  were  placed.  The  Patriots  seeing  what  was  designed, 
were  animated  with  the  hope  of  inflicting  a  severe 
defeat  on  their  adversaries.  Washington  exclaimed  to 
those  about  him,  "Remember  the  5th  of  March! 
Avenge  the  death  of  your  brethren  !  "  Percy  delayed 
scaling  the  heights  until  nightfall,  and  in  the  afternoon  a 
violent  storm  of  wind  arose,  which  continued  during  the 
night,  and,  on  the  morning  of  the  6th  rain  fell  in 
torrents  and  prevented  any  attempts  being  made.  A 
council  of  war  was  held  by  Howe,  and  it  was  agreed 
that  it  was  now  impossible  to  expel  the  Patriots  from 
their  position,  and  that  the  speedy  evacuation  of  Boston 
had  become  a  necessity.  He  found  himself  out-gen- 
eralled  by  an  officer  whom  he  regarded  as  a  mere 
amateur  in  the  art  of  war. 

Early  in  the  morning  of  March  1 7th,  it  was  seen 
that  a  breastwork  had  been  constructed  during  the 
night  on  Nook's  Hill,  a  part  of  the  Dorchester  range 
which  commands  Boston  Neck  and  the  southern  quar 
ter  of  the  town,  and  as  any  further  delay  would  have 
been  highly  dangerous,  it  was  resolved  to  move  as  soon 
as  possible.  The  adherents  of  the  Royal  cause  were 
offered  a  passage  to  Nova  Scotia  ;  but  the  prospect  of 
exile  to  such  dreary  lands  seemed  more  wretched  and 
alarming  than  the  expected  ill-usage  of  the  victorious 
Patriots.  There  was  no  time  to  come  to  terms  with  the 
enemy  as  to  their  future  condition,  and  several  were  left 
to  their  fate. 

At  four  o'clock  on  the  morning  of  March  i8th,  the 
British  army,  accompanied  by  about  2OOO  of  their  loyal 
sympathizers,  began  to  embark,  and  before  ten  they 
were  all  on  board  the  120  transports,  and  under  way,  so 
great  was  the  despatch.  Ere  leaving,  they  dismantled, 
and  in  part  demolished,  the  fort  called  Castle  William; 
but  the  barracks  were  left  as  they  stood,  with  a  large 


JO  THE  BATTLES   OF  AMERICA. 

quantity  of  cannon  and  ammunition,  which  proved  of 
the  greatest  service  to  Washington.  Howe  neglected 
to  give  information  to  ships  from  England  that  the  town 
was  now  in  the  hands  of  the  rebels,  and  several  English 
store-ships,  containing  munitions  of  war,  sailed  into  the 
harbor  and  were  seized  by  the  Patriots  ;  and  one  vessel 
conveying  700  troops  shared  the  same  fate.  The  re 
maining  royalists  of  Boston  were  brought  to  trial,  found 
guilty,  and  their  effects  were  confiscated  and  turned  to 
the  benefit  of  the  cause. 

As  the  rear-guard  of  the  British  army  quitted  Boston, 
the  Patriot  vanguard  under  Putnam  marched  in.  They 
found  marks  of  hasty  flight  everywhere;  for  the  enemy 
had  left  behind  him,  not  merely  guns  and  gunpowder, 
but  large  quantities  of  wheat,  barley,  and  oats,  a  hundred 
and  fifty  cavalry  horses,  and  bedding  and  clothing  for 
soldiers.  Washington  entered  Boston  on  the  iQth.and 
the  main  body  of  the  army  followed  on  the  2Oth.  Six 
of  his  best  regiments  were  at  once  despatched  to  New 
York,  and  preparations  were  made  to  repel  any  possible 
attack  on  Boston  itself. 

Thus  ended  the  "siege  of  Boston;"  and  Washing 
ton  sought  in  the  neighborhood  of  New  York  addi 
tional  strength  for  the  cause  of  his  country. 

Bancroft  says  :  "  Never  was  so  great  a  result  obtained 
at  so  small  a  cost  of  human  life.  The  putting  of  the 
British  army  to  flight  was  the  first  decisive  victory  of 
the  industrious  middling  class  over  the  most  powerful 
representatives  of  mediaeval  aristocracy  ;  and  the  whole 
number  of  New  England  men  killed  in  the  siege  after 
Washington  took  the  command  was  less  than  twenty ; 
the  liberation  of  New  England  cost  altogether  less  than 
2OO  lives  in  battle  ;  and  the  triumphant  general,  as  he 
looked  around,  enjoyed  the  serenest  delight,  for  he  saw 
no  mourners  among  those  who  greeted  his  entry  aftei 
his  bloodless  victory." 


CHAPTER  II. 

TlCONDEROGA    AND    CROWN     POINT    (May   IO,   1775). 

WHILE  passing  through  Hartford,  on  April  29,  17/5, 
the  "  arch  rebels,"  Samuel  Adams  and  John  Hancock, 
secretly  met  the  Governor  and  Council,  to  settle  the 
details  of  an  expedition  to  surprise  Ticonderoga.  The 
plan  had  originated  with  the  Green  Mountain  Boys — a 
body  of  active  Patriots  recently  formed  in  Vermont,  from 
the  name  of  which  colony  they  took  their  name.  Ethan 
Allen — a  man  who  had  formerly  been  outlawed  by  the 
government  of  New  York  for  encouraging  the  people 
of  Vermont  to  assert  their  independence  of  that  prov 
ince — was  to  be  one  of  the  leaders  of  the  attack,  and 
Connecticut  was  to  furnish  the  necessary  funds. 

A  few  men  were  got  together  in  Massachusetts,  and 
word  was  quickly  spread  through  the  hills  of  Vermont 
that  the  attempt  was  forthwith  to  be  made.  100  of  the 
Green  Mountain  Boys  joined  the  volunteers  from  Mas 
sachusetts  on  May  7th,  and  elected  Ethan  Allen  as  their 
chief,  in  spite  of  a  commission  from  the  Massachusetts 
Committee  of  Safety,  which  conferred  the  command  on 
Benedict  Arnold.  On  the  following  day,  the  party 
began  their  march.  Near  Orwell,  which  was  reached 
late  on  the  9th,  a  few  boats  were  discovered,  and  83 
men  crossed  the  narrow  waters  between  Lakes  George 
and  Champlain,  and,  guided  by  a  farmer's  son,  who  was 
well  acquainted  with  the  fort  and  its  vicinity,  landed  not 
far  from  the  position.  As  several  of  the  men  were  thus 

Independence — 4  (5l) 


52  THE  BATTLES   OF  AMERICA. 

left  behind,  the  boats  were  sent  back  to  bring  up  the 
rest;  but  it  was  found  impossible  to  wait  for  them,  lest 
the  expedition  should  be  discovered,  and  the  advantages 


JOHN    HANCOCK,    PRESIDENT    OF   THE   CONTINENTAL    CONGRESS. 

of  a  surprise  be  missed.  In  the  early  morning  of  the 
loth,  Allen  drew  up  his  men  in  three  ranks  on  the 
slopes  of  the  high  ground,  and  thus  addressed  them: 
"  Friends  and  fellow-soldiers,  we  must  this  morning  quit 


TICONDEROGA   AND   CROWN  POINT. 


53 


our  pretensions  to  valor,  or  possess  ourselves  of  this 
fortress ;  and,  inasmuch  as  it  is  a  desperate  attempt,  I 
do  not  urge  it  on,  contrary  to  will.  You  that  will  under- 


SAMUEL   ADAMS,    OF    MASSACHUSETTS. 

take  it  voluntarily,  poise  your  firelock."  Not  a  man 
hung  back,  every  firelock  was  poised,  and  Allen  then 
led  his  little  band  up  to  the  gate  of  the  fortress.  Through 


54 


THE  BATTLES   OF  AMERICA. 


the  wicket,  which  was  open,  the  Patriots  rushed  into  the 
enclosure  with  a  cry  as  of  Indians,  and  formed  on  the 
parade  in  such  a  way  as  to  face  each  of  the  barracks. 
After  a  slight  skirmish  with  cutlasses,  one  of  the  sen 
tries,  who  had  been  slightly  wounded,  surrendered  him 
self,  and  volunteered  to  show  the  way  to  the  apartment 
of  the  commandant,  Delaplace.  "Come  forth  instantly, 
or  I  will  sacrifice  the  whole  garrison ! "  cried  Ethan 
Allen,  as  he  reached  the  door.  On  being  summoned  to 
come  forth,  that  officer  presented  himself  half-dressed, 
and  with  his  breeches  in  his  hand,  having  had  no  time 
to  dress,  he  asked  Allen  by  what  authority  he  demanded 
a  surrender,  and  was  answered,  "In  tJie  name  of  the 
Great  Jehovah  and  the  Continental  Congress  ! "  The 
"  Continental  Congress  "  did  not  meet  for  organization 
until  six  hours  afterwards,  and  its  "  authority  "  was  yet 
scarcely  recognized,  even  by  the  Patriots  in  the  field. 
Delaplace  remonstrated,  but  Allen  interrupted  him,  and, 
with  his  drawn  sword  over  his  head,  again  demanded 
the  surrender  of  the  garrison,  with  which  he  complied, 
and  ordered  his  men  to  be  paraded  without  arms,  for 
that  purpose. 

Thus  Ticonderoga,  which  cost  the  British  nation  forty 
millions  of  dollars,  a  succession  of  campaigns,  and 
many  lives,  was  won  in  ten  minutes  by  a  few  undisci 
plined  volunteers,  without  the  loss  of  life  or  limb. 

With  the  fortress  were  taken  nearly  50  prisoners,  who 
were  sent  to  Connecticut ;  and  they  gained  one  thirteen- 
inch  mortar,  more  than  100  pieces  of  cannon,  and  a 
number  of  swivels,  stores,  and  small  arms. 

Flushed  with  their  sudden  success,  and  strangers  to 
discipline,  the  Green  Mountain  Boys  at  once  proceeded 
to  plunder  and  destroy  private  property,  and  to  commit 
other  outrages.  Against  all  this  Arnold  earnestly  remon 
strated,  when  he  was  reminded  that  he  was  a  commander 
only  by  courtesy,  and  his  authority  was  openly  denied. 


TICONDEROGA   AND    CROWN  POINT. 


55 


On  the  next  day  (May  12,  1775,)  a  party  of  men 
under  Seth  Warner  took  possession  of  Crown  Point, 
which,  with  its  garrison  of  12  men,  surrendered  upon 
the  first  summons,  in  pieces  of  artillery,  of  various 


GENERAL  BENEDICT  ARNOLD. 


sizes  and  conditions,  were  added  to  the  trophies  of  the 
expedition. 

Another  party,  acting  under  Arnold's  orders,  suc 
ceeded  in  making  a  prisoner  of  Skene,  a  dangerous 
British  agent,  and  his  Tory  retainers,  and  in  getting  pos- 


56  THE  BATTLES  ~OF  AMERICA. 

session  of  Skenesborough,  now  known  as  Whitehall. 
They  also  captured  a  small  schooner,  with  which  they 
sailed  down  the  lake.  Arnold,  with  50  of  his  men, 
armed  the  schooner,  and  proceeded  with  her  to  St. 
John's,  on  the  Sorel  River,  where  the  King's  sloop-of- 
war,  "  The  George  III,"  mounting  16  guns,  and  a  sup 
ply  of  provisions,  was  known  to  be. 

About  the  same  time,  desiring  to  share  the  honor 
which  he  saw  awaited  Arnold's  expedition,  Allen,  with 
60  men,  embarked  in  bateaux  also  for  St.  John's. 

Arnold  approached  the  fort  at  St.  John's,  which  he 
surprised,  taking  the  garrison  prisoners ;  seized  the 
sloop,  which  was  laden  with  prisoners,  and  awaited  a 
fair  wind  for  Ticonderoga ;  captured  four  bateaux,  and 
destroyed  five  others  ;  removed  a  portion  of  the  stores 
from  the  fort,  and,  with  his  prisoners,  re-embarked  for 
Ticonderoga. 

Arnold,  laden  with  his  spoils,  met  Allen  about  15 
miles  above  St.  John's.  The  latter  went  on  boar6 
Arnold's  sloop,  and  received  information  of  the  situa 
tion  of  St.  John's,  and  some  provisions,  and,  contrary 
to  Arnold's  advice,  determined  to  proceed  to  St.  John's 
and  take  possession  of  the  fort.  The  enemy  had  been 
reinforced  and  he  met  an  attack  from  200  men,  with  six 
field-pieces.  He  made  no  resistance  but  took  to  his 
boats  and  returned  to  Ticonderoga,  with  the  loss  of 
three  men  taken  prisoners. 

Thus,  in  a  few  days,  a  handful  of  undisciplined  men, 
with  small-arms  only,  and  without  a  single  bayonet,  in 
a  series  of  bold  exploits,  and  without  the  loss  or  serious 
injury  of  a  man,  had  secured  artillery  and  stores  for 
the  infant  cause  of  freedom,  and  secured  the  great 
highway  leading  to  His  Majesty's  Canadian  dominions. 


CHAPTER  III. 

IN  AND  AROUND  NEW  YORK. 

THE  British  sailed  away  from  Boston  on  March  18, 
1776.  On  the  fourth  day  of  July,  following,  the  Con 
tinental  Congress  adopted  the  Declaration  of  Independ 
ence.  This  act  was  a  formal  separation  of  the  United 
Colonies  from  England.  It  was  signed  by  56  represent 
atives  of  the  Old  13  States,  from  New  Hampshire  to 
Georgia.  It  was  read  at  the  head  of  the  army,  pro 
claimed  in  all  the  States,  and  received  by  the  people 
everywhere  with  great  joy. 

After  the  evacuation  of  Boston  by  the  British, 
Washington  and  his  army  moved  towards  New  York 
City,  and  prepared  for  its  defense,  believing  that  would 
be  the  next  point  that  Howe  would  seek  to  occupy. 
The  most  numerous  supporters  of  the  British  connec 
tion  were  there ;  the  eastern  counties  containing  a  very 
considerable  party  opposed  to  the  designs  of  the  revolu 
tionists.  The  proximity  of  a  powerful  fleet  gave  confi 
dence  to  these  royalists.  The  passage  to  the  city,  both 
by  the  East  and  North  Rivers,  had  been  defended  by 
strong  entrenchments,  by  chains,  and  sunken  vessels, 
and  other  obstructions. 

Howe  arrived  from  Halifax  on  June  28 — the  remain 
der  of  the  fleet  following  within  a  week — and  established 
his  headquarters  at  Staten  Island,  opposite  New  York. 
Washington  had  under  his  command  about  1 1,000  men, 

(57) 


5 g  THE  BATTLES   OF  AMERICA. 

of  whom  2000  had  no  arms  at  all,  while  others  were 
but  poorly  furnished.  This  force  was  quite  inadequate 
to  the  work  required  of  it ;  but  Washington  repelled 
all  promptings  of  despondency.  His  military  position 
in  July,  1776,  was  decidedly  grave;  but  he  confronted 
the  dangers  of  the  time  with  that  unruffled  serenity 
which  was  one  of  his  finest  characteristics. 

Howe's  reinforcements  arrived  about  the  middle  of 
August.  He  had  been  joined  by  detachments  under 
Clinton  and  Cornwallis ;  by  several  regiments  from 
England,  the  West  Indies,  and  the  Floridas ;  and  by  a 
number  of  "  Hessians."  Of  these  mercenaries,  the 
Landgrave  of  Hesse  furnished  12,000,  while  5000  were 
supplied  by  the  Duke  of  Brunswick  and  other  petty 
sovereigns.  A  more  cold-blooded  contract  was  never 
signed.  To  England  it  was  discreditable;  to  the  Ger 
man  Powers  concerned  it  was  disgraceful. 

Howe  had  under  his  orders  nearly  30,000  men,  and 
the  assistance  of  a  powerful  fleet,  which  was  peculiarly 
serviceable  in  operations  against  a  city  like  New  York, 
capable  of  being  approached  by  water  from  several 
directions. 

LONG  ISLAND. — The  Patriots  were  posted  partly  in 
New  York  and  partly  on  Long  Island.  The  command 
on  the  island  was  in  the  hands  of  General  Greene — an 
officer  of  great  ability,  unimpeachable  courage,  and 
much  zeal ;  but  he  was  unfortunately  stricken  with  a 
raging  fever  at  the  very  time  when  his  judgment  and 
vigor  was  most  needed.  General  Sullivan  was  appointed 
to  fill  his  place. 

On  August  22,  1776,  under  cover  of  a  sharp  fire  from 
the  fleet,  Howe  crossed  over  from  Staten  Island,  on  the 
west,  to  Long  Island,  on  the  east.  On  the  27th,  the 
battle  of  Long  Island  was  fought  near  Brooklyn.  The 
Patriots  were  defeated,  and  Washington  withdrew  his 


r^sr^^^v 
READING  TILE   DECLARATION   OF  INDEPENDENCE  TO  THE  ARMY. 


6o 


THE   BATTLES  OF  AMERICA. 


troops  from  Brooklyn,  leaving  the  whole  of  Long  Island 
in  the  hands  of  the  British.  Washington  made  a  stand 
at  Harlem  Heights,  in  the  northern  part  of  the  city,  but 
as  he  was  not  strong  enough  to  hold  New  York,  it 
was  soon  evacuated.  Fort  Washington,  above  New 
York,  with  2700  prisoners  of  war,  was  next  captured  by 
the  British  on  November  16,  1776.  Washington  who 
was  near  enough  to  the  attack  to  view-  several  parts  of 

it,  cried  like  a  child  at 
seeing  so  many  of  his 
soldiers  bayoneted. 

The  battle  was,  in  re 
ality,  a  series  of  skir 
mishes.  The  entire 
strength  of  the  Patriots 
did  not  exceed  5000 
men,  while  that  of  the 
enemy  was  not  less 
than  15,000.  The  loss 
of  the  Patriots  in  killed, 
wounded,  and  prisoners 
was  nearly  1200  men, 
more  than  1000  of 
whom  were  held  as 
prisoners  in  the  enemy's 
camp.  The  British  loss 
in  killed,  wounded  and 
prisoners  was  365  men. 

Howe  acted  with  more  vigor  and  promptitude  than 
he  generally  displayed,  and  his  success  was  quickly  fol 
lowed  up.  He  attacked  Fort  Lee,  on  the  New  Jersey 
side  of  the  river,  nearly  opposite  Fort  Washington,  and 
compelled  its  evacuation.  Greene,  who  commanded  at 
the  fort,  escaped  with  the  main  body  of  the  garrison  ; 
but  the  heavy  artillery  and  the  baggage  fell  into  the 
hands  of  the  British. 


GKNERAL   SULLIVAN. 


GENERAL    NATHANIEL   GREENE. 


6l 


52  THE   BATTLE*    «*f  AMERICA. 

Washington  now  dreaded  an  advance  on  Philadelphia, 
where  the  Continental  Congress  was  assembled. 
Closely  pursued  by  Cornwallis,  he  fell  back  from  town 
to  town,  and  ultimately  reached  Trenton,  where  he 
crossed  the  Delaware,  taking  up  a  favorable  post  on  the 
western  or  Pennsylvania  shore.  Of  men  fit  for  duty, 
he  had  now  no  more  than  3000,  and  his  situation  was 
so  desperate  that,  while  on  the  march,  he  had  written 
earnest  letters  to  the  Governor  of  New  Jersey  and  to 
Congress,  soliciting  reinforcements.  Cornwallis  made 
no  attempt  to  cross  the  river,  but,  in  order  to  secure  the 
possession  of  New  Jersey,  formed  a  chain  of  canton 
ments  at  Pennington,  Trenton,  Bordentown,  and  Bur 
lington. 


CHAPTER   IV. 
THE  EXPEDITIONS  AGAINST  CANADA  (1775-1776). 

CANADA,  in  the  early  days  of  the  Revolution,  lay 
open  to  the  influences  of  both  antagonists.  It  was 
in  military  possession  of  the  British  ;  but  the  Patriots 
were  not  inclined  to  let  it  rest  in  that  state,  and 
considered  that  it  might  be  made  subservient  to  the 
general  cause.  On  June  27,  1775,  General  Philip  Schuy- 
ler  was  instructed  to  proceed  without  delay  to  Ticonde- 
roga,  thence  to  advance  on  Canada,  and  to  take  posses 
sion  of  St.  John's  and  Montreal. 

Following  out  the  instructions  which  he  had  re 
ceived  from  Congress,  Schuyler  caused  a  number  of 
boats  to  be  built  at  Ticonderoga  for  the  transport  of 
his  troops  into  the  dominion  of  Quebec.  He  sent  an 
emissary  across  the  border,  to  collect  information  as  to 
the  state  of  the  country  and  the  disposition  of  the 
people ;  and  this  agent,  on  his  return  about  the  middle 
of  August,  1775,  reported  that  the  inhabitants  were 
friendly,  that  the  regular  troops  in  the  country  were  not 
above  700,  and  that  the  militia,  which  were  of  British 
origin,  refused  to  serve  under  French  officers.  The 
account  thus  given  was  too  sanguine ;  but  in  some 
matters  it  was  correct,  and  it  encouraged  Schuyler  to 
push  on  his  preparations  with  great  energy.  He  had 
for  his  second  in  command  the  enthusiastic  and  daring 
Irishman,  Richard  Montgomery,  formerly  an  officer 

(63) 


64  THE   BATTLES   OF  AMERICA. 

in  the  British  army,  who,  settling  in  New  York,  had  be 
come  thoroughly  imbued  with  American  ideas,  and  was 
made  a  Major-General  in  the  Patriot  army. 

On  his  arrival  at  Ticonderoga,  he  was  left  for  a  time 
at  the  head  of  the  forces  there,  Schuyler  taking  the  op 
portunity  to  depart  for  Saratoga,  that  he  might  enter 
into  negotiations  with  the  Indians.  This  caused  some 
delay  in  the  starting  of  the  expedition  ;  but  at  length 
Montgomery,  fearing  that  the  neighboring  waters  might 
be  occupied  by  British  vessels  if  he  stayed  too  long, 
determined  to  advance  on  his  own  authority  at  the  head 
of  1000  men.  By  September  3  he  had  arrived  at  Isle 
La  Motte,  on  Lake  Champlain,  and  on  the  follow 
ing  day  he  was  joined  by  Schuyler,  with  whom  he  pro 
ceeded  farther  into  the  country.  On  the  6th  the  two 
commanders  were  at  St.  John's,  and,  in  marching  towards 
the  castle,  had  a  trifling  encounter  with  a  party  of 
Indians.  Schuyler  proposed  to  a  council  of  war  to  re 
treat  to  Isle  aux  Noix,  which  he  had  occupied  two 
or  three  days  before.  The  suggestion  was  adopted,  and 
the  backward  movement  performed.  Montgomery,  see 
ing  the  necessity  of  a  more  vigorous  rule,  induced 
Schuyler  to  abandon  the  active  command,  and  embark 
for  Ticonderoga,  leaving  the  chief  direction  in  his 
hands. 

St.  John's  was  now  invested  with  vigor.  Mont 
gomery  received  frequent  additions  to  his  forces,  and 
Schuyler,  proving  himself  a  good  commissariat  officer, 
however  poor  a  general,  kept  them  well  supplied  with 
food.  A  siege  could  not  be  actively  prosecuted  for 
want  of  powder ;  but  the  fortress  was  surrounded,  and 
effectually  cut  off  from  succor.  Ethan  Allen  was  one 
of  the  officers  under  Montgomery.  He  was  de 
spatched  to  Chambly,  to  raise  a  corps  of  Canadians,  and, 
having  recruited  a  certain  number  of  men,  he  was 
persuaded  by  them  to  attempt  the  surprise  of  Montreal, 


GENERAL    RICHARD    MONTGOMERY. 


66  THE  BATTLES   OF  AMERICA. 

which  he  thought  might  be  as  easy  a  feat  as  that  which, 
by  a  happy  stroke,  he  had  been  able  to  accomplish 
on  the  morning  of  the  loth  of  May.  Accordingly,  at 
the  head  of  eighty  Canadians  and  thirty  Anglo-Ameri 
cans,  he  started  on  the  night  of  September  24,  from 
Longueil,  and  proceeded  to  Long  Point.  Some  rein 
forcements  which  he  expected  were  not  forthcoming; 
retreat  was  by  this  time  impossible ;  and  Allen  had 
no  alternative  but  to  withstand  as  well  as  he  could  the 
attack  which  was  speedily  made  upon  him.  Some  500 
men,  consisting  of  regulars,  Canadians,  Indians,  and 
English  civilians,  assaulted  his  position,  which  he  de 
fended  with  considerable  gallantry  for  nearly  two  hours. 
He  was  then  compelled  to  surrender,  with  all  his,  men 
who  could  not  escape.  Heavily  ironed,  he  was  sent  to 
England,  where  he  was  imprisoned  for  a  short  time,  and 
then  carried  back  to  America,  while  the  others,  shackled 
together  in  pairs,  were  sent  to  labor  in  transports  on  the 
St.  Lawrence,  that  "they  might  learn  for  the  future  not 
to  attempt  the  impossible." 

The  easy  defeat  of  Allen  must  have  tended  to  cheer 
the  spirits  of  Carleton,  the  British  Governor,  who  had 
been  taking  a  very  gloomy  view  of  the  state  of  affairs. 
The  British  troops  under  his  orders  were  a  mere  hand 
ful,  and  he  wrote  to  the  commander  at  Boston  that 
Canada  was  on  the  eve  of  being  overrun  and  subdued. 

Carleton  endeavored  to  augment  his  forces  by  enlist 
ing  Canadians  and  Indians  ;  but  the  former  deserted  in 
squads.  The  savages  would  probably  have  been  excited 
to  vigorous  action,  had  Carleton  consented  to  let  them 
loose  on  the  rebel  provinces ;  but  this  he  refused,  because 
of  the  atrocities  which  he  knew  would  be  committed. 
The  Indians  of  the  Six  Nations  wished  to  make  an 
immediate  attack  on  Ticonderoga  and  Crown  Point; 
but  the  proposal  was  rejected.  Carleton  was  therefore 
compelled  to  remain  on  the  defensive;  and  the  Patriots, 


Independence — 5 


68  THE   BATTLES   OF  AMERICA, 

Burning  his  inaction  to  their  own  advantage,  laid  siege 
to  the  fort  of  Chambly,  which,  after  an  attack  of  about  36 
hours'  duration,  surrendered  on  October  18.  Seven 
teen  cannon  and  six  tons  of  powder  fell  to  the  lot  of  the 
Patriots,  and  enabled  them  to  proceed  against  St.  John's 
with  more  effect.  Carleton  endeavored  to  raise  the 
siege ;  but  his  force  was  driven  back  in  attempting  to 
cross  the  St.  Lawrence,  and  his  subordinate,  Colonel 
Allan  Maclean,  with  whom  he  had  been  trying  to  form 
a  junction,  retired  to  Quebec.  The  fort  of  St.  John's  sur 
rendered  on  November  3,  and  the  garrison  of  600  men 
marched  out  with  the  honors  of  war.  The  situation 
appeared  to  Carleton  so  desperate  that  he  determined  to 
abandon  Montreal;  and  on  November  1 1,  he  embarked, 
with  100  regulars  and  Canadians,  on  board  some  small 
vessels  in  the  port,  and  set  sail  for  Quebec.  Finding 
that  his  passage  of  the  river  was  likely  to  be  disputed, 
he  disguised  himself,  on  the  night  of  the  l6th,  in  the 
dress  of  a  fisherman,  entered  a  whale-boat,  and  was 
paddled  with  muffled  oars  down  the  island-studded 
current  to  Quebec,  which  he  reached  on  the  iQth.  The 
day  after  he  had  left  Montreal,  that  city  surrendered 
without  opposition  to  Montgomery,  who  straightway 
issued  a  proclamation  to  the  Canadians,  urging  them  to 
elect  representatives  to  the  Continental  Congress,  and 
unite  themselves  with  the  Federation  of  the  South. 

The  chief  struggle  was  to  take  place  before  Quebec, 
against  which  city  Washington  directed  a  large  force 
under  the  command  of  Benedict  Arnold.  He  had  been 
a  trader,  but  had  joined  the  army,  for  which  he  had 
great  natural  aptitude,  being  courageous,  enterprising, 
and  intelligent.  The  army  placed  under  his  command 
consisted  of  ten  companies  of  New  England  infantry, 
one  of  riflemen  from  Virginia,  and  two  from  Pennsyl 
vania,  amounting  altogether  to  about  IIOO  men.  This 
force  left  the  camp  before  Boston  on  the  evening  of  Sep- 


fHE  EXPEDITIONS  AGAINST  CANADA. 


69 


tember  13,  and  pushed  on  northwards  with  as  much 
rapidity  as  the  nature  of  the  ground  permitted.  Their 
route,  as  soon  as  they  had  got  into  Maine,  lay  through 
a  woody  and  almost  desert  country,  and,  for  a  portion 
of  the  way,  up  the  Kennebec.  This  river  they  ascended 
in  small  boats,  working  against  the  current,  which  flowed 
with  such  extraordinary  force  as  frequently  to  compel 
the  men  to  wade  up  to  their  waists  in  water,  hauling 
their  boats  after  them,  or  carrying  them  on  their  backs 
round  cataracts,  over  crags,  and  across  morasses. 
Arnold  wrote  to  Washington  that  you  might  have  mis 
taken  his  troops  for  amphibious  animals.  On  quitting 
the  Kennebec,  the  road  lay  through  dense  and  gloomy 
forests,  where  the  companies  would  probably  have  been 
lost,  had  not  an  exploring  party  of  seven  men,  who  had 
been  sent  in  advance,  indicated  the  proper  route  by 
"blazing "the  trees  (that  is,  cutting  white  marks  on 
them  by  the  removal  of  the  bark)  and  lopping  the 
bushes.  Then  again  they  came  to  a  region  of  swamps, 
overgrown  with  brambles  and  white  moss,  into  which 
the  soldiers  often  sank  knee-deep.  This  dismal  country 
is  that  which  extends  between  the  Kennebec  and  the 
Dead  River.  The  latter  stream  was  reached  by  Arnold 
on  October  13,  a  month  after  the  starting  of  the  expedi 
tion,  and  by  the  main  body  of  the  army  two  days  later. 
Following  its  course,  they  traversed  a  distance  of  83 
miles,  passing  seventeen  falls,  and  having  to  encounter 
a  series  of  ponds,  choked  with  the  trunks  of  trees. 
Thus,  after  many  more  days  of  toil,  they  reached  the 
carrying-place  to  the  Chaudiere.  But  the  labors  and 
sufferings  of  the  troops  were  not  yet  over;  and  the  men 
were  now  disheartened  by  hearing  of  the  defection  of 
Roger  Enos,  the  second  in  command,  who  had  returned 
to  Cambridge,  together  with  his  three  companies,  form 
ing  the  rear-guard  of  the  army. 

Notwithstanding  this  depressing  intelligence,  the  main 


^o  THE  BATTLES   OF  AMERICA. 

body  struggled  on,  though  sickness  had  now  set  in,  and 
many  deserted  their  colors.  November  was  close  at 
hand  ;  winter  had  already  begun  ;  the  cold  was  intense, 
and  the  men  were  ill-prepared  to  meet  it.  Their  clothes 
had  become  so  torn  by  the  briary  woods  through  which 
they  had  passed  that  they  were  almost  naked ;  some 
went  barefoot  for  many  days.  Tempests  of  icy  rain 
whistled  about  them,  and  at  night  they  had  no  other 
covering  than  branches  of  evergreens.  Each  division 
had  taken  with  it  food  for  45  days;  but  this  had  now 
run  out.  During  the  latter  part  of  the  march,  several 
dogs  were  killed  and  eaten,  and  leather,  soaked  in  water, 
was  not  disdained  as  a  last  resource  in  the  agonies  of 
famine.  Many  of  the  unfortunate  soldiers  died  of  cold 
and  hunger,  and  no  prospect  of  relief  was  in  sight.  In 
descending  the  Chaudiere,  which  courses  rapidly  through 
a  rocky  channel,  three  of  the  boats  were  upset,  and  a 
quantity  of  ammunition  and  stores  was  lost  On  No 
vember  2,  those  weary  and  starving  men  were  delighted 
at  seeing  some  French  Canadians  driving  before  them 
five  oxen  ;  and  on  the  4th  they  descried  a  house,  which 
was  the  first  they  had  seen  for  31  days.  They  had  by 
this  time  advanced  into  a  cultivated  and  inhabited 
country,  and  the  extremity  of  their  sufferings  was  at  an 
end.  Their  emergence  from  the  wilderness  astonished 
the  Canadians,  who  had  long  regarded  that  dreary  tract 
of  country  as  impenetrable.  With  re-animated  spirits 
they  marched  on  towards  Quebec ;  but  their  approach 
was  already  known  in  the  city.  Some  of  Arnold's  com 
munications  to  the  Canadians,  which  were  to  have  been 
distributed  by  friendly  Indians,  had  been  intercepted, 
and  the  Lieutenant-Governor  of  Quebec  lost  no  time  in 
strengthening  the  walls  and  augmenting  the  defences. 
The  capital  of  Canada  was  therefore,  by  the  seconci 
week  of  November,  in  a  good  position  to  meet  the 
expected  attack. 


72  THE   BATTLES   OF  AMERICA. 

Point  Levi,  lying  on  the  St.  Lawrence,  south  of  the 
Isle  of  Orleans,  and  opposite  to  Quebec,  was  reached 
by  Arnold  on  November  10,  but  he  was  unable  to  cross 
at  once,  as  all  the  boats  had  been  removed.  He  there 
fore  set  to  work  collecting  canoes  and  making  ladders; 
and  on  the  I3th,  at  nine  o'clock  in  the  evening,  he  began 
his  embarkation.  Not  more  than  30  canoes  were  in  his 
possession,  and  it  was  found  necessary  to  cross  the  river 
three  times  to  carry  over  the  bulk  of  the  army.  The 
darkness  of  night  favored  the  operation,  and  Arnold 
and  his  men  arrived  undiscovered  at  Wolfe's  Cove. 
150  soldiers  had  been  left  at  Point  Levi,  and  the  number 
who  now  stood  beneath  the  Heights  of  Abraham  was 
about  700  men.  Success,  under  the  circumstances  of 
the  case,  was  hopeless.  The  men  were  exhausted  with 
their  long  and  toilsome  march ;  they  had  no  cannon ; 
their  muskets  were  damaged,  and  their  powder  and 
cartridges  in  bad  condition.  Nevertheless,  they  deter 
mined  to  make  the  attempt.  Ascending  the  steep  and 
jagged  path  by  which  Wolfe  had  gained  the  elevated 
plateau  in  1759,  they  found  themselves  by  morning  on 
the  plain  which  stretches  towards  Quebec.  Arnold 
sent  a  flag  to  demand  the  surrender  of  the  place ;  but 
the  flag  was  not  received,  and  the  city  evinced  no  desire 
to  capitulate  to  a  mob  of  ragged  and  half-starved  men. 
Arnold,  after  making  an  assault  on  one  of  the  gates  of 
the  city,  in  which  he  was  repulsed  with  loss,  and  finding 
that  his  troops  had  no  more  than  five  rounds  of  ammu 
nition  to  each  man,  retired  to  Point  aux  Trembles,  20 
miles  above  Quebec,  and  between  that  city  and  Montreal. 

The  defences  of  Quebec  were  excellent;  but  the 
number  of  soldiers  within  the  walls  was  few.  A  small 
reinforcement,  however,  had  arrived  on  November  12, 
when  Colonel  Maclean,  who  had  fallen  back  from  Fort 
Chambly,  entered  the  city  at  the  head  of  170  men, 
levied  chiefly  among  the  Highlanders  settled  in  Canada. 


THE  EXPEDITIONS  AGAINST  CANADA.  73 

Two  ships  of  war  were  in  the  harbor,  and  the  crews 
of  merchant-vessels  were  detained  to  aid  in  the  defence. 
The  arrival  of  General  Carleton  on  the  I9th  cheered 
the  spirits  of  the  garrison.  His  first  act  was  to  order 
all  who  would  not  join  in  the  defence  to  quit  the  city 
within  four  days.  The  governor  had  now  under  his 
command  nearly  1800  men,  of  whom  about  300 
were  regular  soldiers.  With  these  were  combined 
485  seamen  and  marines,  several  militia  men,  and  a 
number  of  civilians  pressed  for  the  service.  Mont 
gomery  was  organizing  his  own  legions  for  an  attack  on 
this  force,  if  he  could  tempt  it  out  into  the  open 
country,  or  on  its  stronghold,  if  he  could  not.  It  was 
a  desperate  enterprise,  for  he  had  no  siege-guns,  and  his 
men  were  very  far  from  being  disciplined  troops. 
Several  of  his  hasty  levies  had  by  this  time  deserted 
him,  yielding  to  that  feeling  of  homesickness  which  was 
so  commonly  found  among  small  farmers  and  comfortable 
husbandmen.  Moreover,  the  engagements  of  the  New 
Englanders  terminated  on  the  last  day  of  the  year ;  it 
was  feared  that  they  would  not  voluntarily  remain  any 
longer ;  and  it  was  therefore  imperative  to  act  at  once, 
if  anything  was  to  be  even  attempted.  Resolving  to 
dare  the  utmost,  Montgomery,  on  November  26,  left 
Montreal  with  three  armed  schooners,  carrying  artillery 
and  300  troops.  Before  quitting  the  city,  he  made  a 
public  declaration  that,  on  his  return,  he  would  call 
a  convention  of  the  Canadian  people. 

A  junction  with  Arnold,  at  Point  aux  Trembles,  was 
effected  on  December  3,  and  on  the  5th  the  united 
force,  consisting  of  loo  Anglo-Americans,  and  about 
200  Canadian  volunteers,  appeared  before  Quebec.  To 
Montgomery  it  seemed  possible  to  carry  the  place  by 
storm,  though  he  knew  that  the  loss  of  life  must  neces 
sarily  be  great.  The  Lower  Town  was  not  so  strongly 
defended  as  the  Upper ;  it  was  there,  if  it  was  anywhere, 


74  THE  BATTLES   OF  AMERICA. 

tiiatthe  fortifications  were  vulnerable.  Still,  the  attempt 
was  terribly  hazardous.  Montgomery  sent  a  flag  of  truce 
to  the  city,  with  a  demand  for  its  surrender ;  but  Carleton 
fired  on  the  flag,  and  refused  to  enter  into  any  negotia 
tions  with  the  "  rebels."  A  battery  was  then  begun  on 
the  Heights  of  Abraham,  near  the  gate  cf  St.  John. 
Montgomery,  in  writing  to  General  Wooster,  said  that 
he  expected  no  other  advantage  from  his  artillery  than 
to  amuse  the  enemy  and  to  blind  him  as  to  the  real  de 
sign.  In  default  of  earth,  which  could  not  be  obtained, 
owing  to  the  severe  frost,  the  gabions  and  fascines  were 
filled  with  snow,  on  which  large  quantities  of  water 
were  poured,  so  that  in  a  moment  a  solid  mass  of 
ice  was  produced.  The  siege,  however,  was  a  mere 
delusion.  The  shot  thrown  by  the  artillery  was  too 
light  to  effect  a  breach,  or  do  any  material  damage, 
though  the  batteries  were  not  more  than  700  yards 
from  the  walls;  and  the  guns,  which  were  all  of  small 
calibre,  were  dismounted  and  injured  by  the  return  fire 
of  the  besieged.  Disease  of  the  lungs  and  small-pox 
thinned  the  ranks  of  Montgomery's  army,  and  the  sea 
son  fought  against  them  with  weapons  more  deadly 
even  than  those  which  Carleton  could  command.  If 
that  officer  could  only  be  drawn  out  into  the  open  field, 
he  might  be  beaten  ;  but  he  was  too  well  acquainted  with 
what  had  happened  to  Montcalm,  when  he  rashly 
quitted  the  city  and  encountered  the  forces  of  Wolfe,  to 
repeat  that  fatal  error.  It  was  evident,  therefore,  that 
nothing  remained  butthe  forlorn  hope  of  an  escalade.  A 
council  of  war,  held  on  the  evening  of  the  i6th,  decided, 
by  a  large  majority,  that  an  assault  should  be  made  as 
soon  as  the  necessary  preparations  could  be  completed. 
The  weather  became  every  day  more  terrible  in  its 
severity.  On  the  3Oth,  a  heavy  snow  storm  set  in ;  and 
Montgomery,  considering  that  the  obscurity  of  the 
atmosphere  would  favor  the  contemplated  movement, 


THE   EXPEDITIONS  AGAINST  CANADA. 


75 


gave  orders  for  the  troops  to  be  ready  for  the  assault  at 
two  o'clock  on  the  following  morning,  when  the  men 
behaved  with  the  utmost  courage  and  resolution.  In 
order  that  they  might  recognize  one  another,  each 
soldier  was  to  wear  in  his  cap  a  piece  of  white  paper ; 
and  some  of  them  inscribed  this  placard  with  the  words, 
"  Liberty  or  Death  !  "  The  forces  were  divided  into 
two  columns,  the  chief  of  which  was  led  by  Mont 
gomery  himself,  while  the  second  was  under  the  com 
mand  of  Arnold.  But  each  of  these  bodies  was  sub 
divided  and  sent  towards  various  quarters,  so  that  the  gar 
rison  might  be  simultaneously  alarmed  along  the  whole 
line  of  their  defences.  Two  false  demonstrations,  on 
the  southwest  and  nearer  the  south,  were  to  distract  the 
attention  of  the  British  and  Canadian  troops,  while  the 
real  attacks,  which  were  to  be  on  the  Lower  Town, 
were  delivered  by  Montgomery  from  the  southeast, 
and  by  Arnold  from  the  northeast. 

Forming  his  small  party  of  300  men  into  Indian  file, 
the  chief  commander  led  them  to  Wolfe's  Cove,  and 
proceeded  two  miles  along  the  shore,  by  a  rocky  path, 
slippery  with  frozen  snow.  A  northeastern  blast  drove 
in  their  faces  the  sharp  and  lacerating  hail  of  those  in 
clement  regions ;  and  the  men,  half  blinded  by  the 
storm,  had  the  greatest  trouble  to  save  themselves  from 
falling  on  the  rugged  and  icy  way.  It  had  been  agreed 
that  the  signal  for  commencing  the  attack  should  be  the 
firing  of  a  rocket  from  Cape  Diamond  by  one  of  the 
parties  engaged  in  the  false  movements.  This  intima 
tion  was  unfortunately  given  more  than  half  an  hour 
too  soon,  and  Montgomery  was  compelled  to  hurry  his 
advance.  With  a  few  companions,  including  the  cele 
brated  Aaron  Burr,  one  of  his  aides-de-camp,  he  arrived 
at  the  first  barrier,  while  the  greater  number  of  the 
troops  were  still  behind.  He  now  found  himself  in  a 
narrow  defile,  sloping  precipitously  towards  the  river  on 


THE  BATTLES   OF  AMERICA. 


one  side,  and  on  the  other  shut  in  by  a  scarped  rock  and 
overhanging  cliff  The  passage  was  intercepted  by 
a  log-house,  loopholed  for  musketry,  and  by  a  battery 
of  two  three-pounders ;  and  the  position  was  held  by  a 
party  of  English  and  Canadians,  including  some  sailors, 
and  numbering  altogether  47  men.  It  was  by  this  time 

daybreak  on  Decem 
ber  31,  1775,  and  the 
main  body  of  the 
attacking  force  was 
seen  marching  up 
from  Wolfe's  Cove. 
A  panic  seized  the 
guard,  who  for  a  mo 
ment  drew  back ;  but 
their  firmness  was 
speedily  restored,  and 
with  lighted  matches 
they  awaited,  behind 
their  guns,  the  on 
slaught  of  the  enemy. 
At  the  head  of  60 
men,  Montgomery, 
exclaiming  that  Que 
bec  was  theirs,  sprang 
quickly  forward.  It 
was  the  last  act  of 
his  life.  The  English 
guns  were  served  by 
nine  seamen,  and  were 
Montgomery  was  within  50  yards 
of  their  mouths.  The  commander  at  once  fell  dead, 
together  with  one  of  his  aides  and  1 1  others.  Mont 
gomery  was  wounded  in  three  places,  and  his  fall  expe 
dited  the  inevitable  defeat  of  the  enterprise. 

A  feeling   of  dismay  spread  through  the  American 


AARON    BURR, 


(Afterwards  Vice-President  of  tJie  U.  S.) 


discharged    when 


THE   EXPEDITIONS  AGAINST  CANADA. 


77 


ranks  at  the  death  of  their  leader,  thus  occurring  at  the 
very  outset  of  the  assault.  The  captain  of  one  of  the 
companies  was  desirous  of  pushing  forward  ;  but  he  was 
ill  supported  and  unable  to  make  his  will  prevail.  The 
arms  of  some  of  the  men  were  wet,  and,  in  the  opinion 
of  some  of  the  officers,  nothing  more  could  be  at 
tempted  with  fatigued  and  disheartened  troops.  Fire 
balls  were  now  being  thrown  by  the  British,  and  their 
baleful  glare  enabled 
the  musketeers  in  the 
blockhouse  to  fire  with 
murderous  precision. 
A  retreat  was  there 
fore  ordered,  and  this 
was  quietly  and  happily 
effected ;  though,  had 
the  garrison  had  the 
courage  to  pursue,  it 
is  probable  that  hardly 
a  man  would  have 
escaped. 

The  defenders  of  the 
city,  however,  were  re 
quired  in  the  city  itself, 
for  a  vigorous  assault 
was  being  carried  on 
in  another  direction. 

Arnold's  division  advanced  along  the  river  St.  Charles, 
the  path  by  the  side  of  which  was  narrowed  by  masses 
of  ice,  thrown  up  by  the  stream.  The  men  of  the  attack 
ing  force  could  only  move  forward  in  single  file,  holding 
down  their  heads  to  protect  their  faces  from  the  piercing 
wind  and  lashing  drift  of  hail  and  snow,  and  covering 
their  muskets  with  their  coats.  They  were  met  by  a 
heavy  fire  from  the  walls ;  but  pressing  on,  they  carried 
the  first  barricade  after  an  hour  of  fighting.  Arnold 


GENERAL    DANJEL    MORGAN. 


78  THE   BATTLES   OF  AMERICA. 

was  presently  struck  in  the  leg  by  a  musket-ball,  and 
carried  to  the  rear  in  great  agony.  The  troops  were  now 
headed  by  Daniel  Morgan,  of  Virginia,  whose  self-devo 
tion  and  military  virtues  were  admirably  displayed  on 
this  occasion,  as  on  others ;  and  it  was  under  his  direc 
tions  that  the  battery  was  taken,  and  its  defenders  seized. 
The  Patriots  surmounted  the  barricade  by  ladders,  and, 
on  reaching  the  other  side,  found  themselves  in  a  peril 
ous  position.  The  place  was  in  darkness,  and  the  cold 
so  extreme  that  the  men  were  covered  with  icicles,  and 
their  muskets  rendered  unavailable  by  the  driving  snow. 
Morgan  knew  nothing  of  the  town,  and  was  in  doubt 
as  to  what  he  should  do.  In  a  little  while  he  was 
joined  by  Christopher  Greene,  of  Rhode  Island, 
Timothy  Bigelow,  of  Massachusetts,  and  Return  J. 
Meigs,  of  Connecticut  (all  of  them  commanders  in  Ar 
nold's  column),  and  by  the  men  belonging  to  their  com 
panies.  The  re-united  force  struggled  on  to  the  next 
barrier,  and  the  scaling  ladders  were  at  once  reared ; 
but  the  menacing  aspect  of  a  large  body  of  troops  on 
the  other  side,  standing  with  levelled  bayonets,  made  the 
assailants  pause.  Many  of  the  officers  were  shot  down, 
for  the  British  fire  came  not  merely  from  the  soldiers  on 
the  farther  side  of  the  barricade,  but  from  houses  on  both 
sides  of  the  narrow  street.  Notwithstanding  these  dis 
advantages,  the  Patriots  maintained  the  fight  for  nearly 
five  hours  ;  but  at  length  the  courage  of  several  gave  way, 
and  they  escaped  over  the  shoal  ice  of  the  St.  Charles. 
Towards  daylight,  those  who  remained,  and  who  con 
stituted  the  larger  number,  got  into  some  stone  houses, 
from  which  they  poured  a  telling  fire  into  their  adver 
sary's  ranks,  and  were  at  the  same  time  protected  them 
selves.  But  all  was  in  vain.  The  defeat  of  Mont 
gomery's  division  left  the  whole  of  Carleton's  army  free 
to  oppose  that  of  Arnold,  for  it  was  evident  by  this 
time  that  the  other  attacks  were  feints.  An  unexpected 


THE   EXPEDITIONS  AGAINST  CANADA. 


79 


sally  from  the  Palace  Gate,  in  the  rear  of  the  assailants, 
overpowered  the  small  but  resolute  band,  and  com 
pelled  a  large  number  to  surrender.  The  remainder, 
inspired  by  the  reckless  courage  of  Morgan,  still  fought 
on,  in  the  hope  of  cutting  their  way  out ;  but  the  feat  was 
impossible,  and  at  ten  o'clock  in  the  morning  they  laid 
down  their  arms.  Carleton  buried  Montgomery  with  the 
honors  of  war,  and  treated  his  prisoners  with  humanity. 

In  1818,  in  conformity  with  a  resolution  of  the  State 
of  New  York,  Mont 
gomery's  remains  were 
removed  from  the  place 
where  they  had  rested 
for  47  years,  in  the  city 
of  Quebec  ;  and  now  re 
pose  beneath  the  monu 
ment  bearing  a  record 
of  his  bravery  and  worth, 
which  had  been  erected 
to  his  memory  by  the 
Continental  Congress, 
under  the  eastern  por 
tico  of  St.  Paul's  Church, 
in  the  city  of  New  York. 

Possessing  military 
abilities  of  a  high  order, 
he  never  insisted  on  their 
supremacy  when  the 

good  will  of  his  men  would,  be  jeopardized,  but  sought 
to  accomplish  results  by  other  and  less  objectionable 
means.  He  was  amiable,  benevolent,  and  strictly 
honest.  His  death  deprived  the  country  of  an  accom 
plished  officer,  and  the  State  of  a  useful  citizen. 

On  the  death  of  Montgomery,  Colonel  Arnold 
assumed  command  of  the  fragments  of  the  army,  some 
800  in  number,  but  feeling  his  inability  to  make  another 
assault,  or  even  to  defend  himself  successfully,  he  with- 


GENERAL    DAVID    WOOSTER. 


80  THE  BATTLES  OF  AMERICA. 

drew  from  the  immediate  neighborhood  of  the  city, 
entrenched  himself  as  well  as  he  could,  and  attempted 
the  blockade  of  the  town  by  cutting  off  its  supplies 
from  the  country,  where  he  continued  till  April,  1776, 
when  General  Wooster,  who  had  wintered  in  Montreal, 
with  his  forces  moved  down  to  Quebec,  and  assumed 
the  chief  command. 

At  the  head  of  2000  men,  half  of  whom  were  unfit  for 
duty,  Wooster  renewed  the  siege,  opening  batteries  on 
the  town  from  the  Heights  of  Abraham  and  from 
Point  Levi,  on  the  opposite  side  of  the  river;  yet  but 
little  damage  was  done. 

About  this  time  Arnold's  horse  fell,  injuring  his 
wounded  leg  so  severely  that  he  was  incapable  of  per 
forming  duty  and  forced  to  retire  to  Montreal,  leaving 
to  Wooster  the  sole  guidance  of  the  operations. 

Early  in  May  Wooster  was  superseded  by  General 
Thomas,  but  General  Burgoyne  having  reached  Que 
bec,  on  May  6,  at  the  head  of  a  powerful  reinforcement, 
the  Continentals  were  glad  to  escape,  leaving  Canada 
in  the  hands  of  England. 

Shortly  afterwards,  after  suffering  several  reverses 
and  the  loss  of  its  general,  by  small-pox,  the  army, 
emaciated,  spiritless,  starved,  and  many  of  them  struck 
with  pestilence,  returned  to  the  colonies,  and  the  expedi 
tions  to  Canada  were  suspended,  to  be  revived  again, 
years  afterwards,  with  similar  results. 

Originally  designed  with  great  care,  and  executed 
with  exactness,  these  expeditions,  in  the  face  of  obstacles 
with  but  few  would  confront,  until  the  fatal  thirty-first 
of  December,  each  promised  a  brilliant  success  ;  and, 
although  the  commander  of  the  one  laid  his  life  on  the 
altar  of  his  country,  and  the  other  descended  to  a 
traitor's  grave,  the  deeds  of  daring,  and  the  disinterested 
patriotism  which  each  displayed  in  Canada,  entitle  both 
to  the  grateful  remembrance  of  their  countrymen  to 
the  end  of  time. 


CHAPTER  V. 
IN  AND  AROUND  PHILADELPHIA. 

TRENTON  (December  26,  1776). — In  the  camp  of  our 
enemies  was  exultation ;  and  gloom  spread  over  the 
almost  disheartened  colonies.  The  best  troops  in  the 
army  had  been  captured  at  Fort  Washington.  The 
enemy  had  gained  possession  of  Rhode  Island,  Long 
Island,  New  York  City,  nearly  all  the  Jerseys,  and 
awaited  only  the  accumulation  of  ice  in  the  Delaware  to 
extend  his  conquest  into  Pennsylvania.  The  Patriot 
troops  were  exhausted,  dispirited,  retreating;  and  the 
greater  part  of  them  would  be  entitled  to  their  discharge 
at  the  end  of  the  year.  Washington  never  despaired  ; 
he  now  formed  the  resolution  of  crossing  the  Delaware, 
and  hazarding  an  engagement  with  the  enemy. 

Two  of  the  most  important  positions — Trenton  and 
Bordentown — were  occupied  by  bodies  of  Hessians. 
Trenton  was  more  particularly  exposed;  and  on  Trenton, 
therefore,  Washington  determined  to  concentrate  his 
attack.  It  was  a  desperate  enterprise,  and  Washington 
well  knew  its  risks.  "  Our  numbers,"  he  said,  "  are  less 
than  I  had  any  conception  of;  but  necessity,  dire  neces 
sity  will — nay,  must — justify  my  attack." 

The  British  force  at  Trenton  consisted  of  1 500 
Hessians,  under  Colonel  Rahl,  and  a  troop  of  Light 
Horse.  At  Bordentown,  farther  down  the  river,  was  a 
second  detachment  of  Hessians ;  and  the  other  divisions 

(81) 


82  THE  BATTLES  OF  AMERICA. 

of  the  invading  army  were  quartered  about  the  country 
from  the  Hackensack  to  the  Delaware.  With  the  quick 
reasoning  of  military  genius,  Washington  discerned  his 
opportunity.  "  Now  is  the  time,"  said  he,  "  to  clip  their 
wings,  while  they  are  so  spread."  The  plan  of  attack 
included  a  movement  against  the  detachments  stationed 
at  Bordentown,  Burlington,  Black  Horse,  and  Mount 
Holly,  which  were  to  be  surprised  by  General  Cadwalla- 
der,  advancing  across  the  river  from  Bristol ;  while 
Washington,  at  the  head  of  the  main  body,  should  cross 
above  Trenton,  and  faH  upon  the  Hessians  under 
Colonel  Rahl. 

On  Christmas  night,  with  2400  men,  he  marched  to 
the  river.  The  current  was  sullen,  and  filled  with 
craunching  ice-cakes.  In  the  blackness  of  the  night 
they  landed  on  the  Jersey  shore,  and  began  their  hard 
march  of  nine  miles  to  Trenton.  Many  of  the  Patriots 
had  no  shoes,  and  left  their  blood-stained  footprints  on 
the  frozen  ground.  Said  Washington,  "  We  will  use 
only  bayonets  to-night — we  must  take  the  town."  The 
Hessians  were  surprised  early  next  morning;  the  victory 
was  won.  The  battle  lasted  but  35  minutes,  and  the 
whole  army  surrendered,  men,  arms,  and  colors.  Rahl 
did  the  utmost  to  rally  his  men ;  but  early  in  the 
engagement  he  received  a  mortal  wound,  and  his 
soldiers,  dismayed  by  the  American  cannon,  which  did 
terrible  execution,  became  discouraged.  A  thousand 
of  them,  after  endeavoring  to  retreat  towards  Princeton, 
and  being  intercepted  by  a  detachment  sent  for  that 
purpose,  grew  bewildered,  struck  their  colors,  and  sur 
rendered  themselves  prisoners ;  the  rest,  including  the 
Light  Horse,  had  at  an  early  period  fled  by  the  bridge 
over  the  Assanpink,  and  escaped  to  Bordentown.  Six. 
brass  field-pieces  and  a  thousand  stand  of  arms  remained 
in  the  hands  of  the  conquerors.  Nearly  thirty  of  the 
Hessian  privates,  and  six  officers  (exclusive  of  Rahl), 


Independence — 6 


34  THE  BA  TTLES  OF  AMERICA, 

were  killed,  while  the  Patriots  lost  only  four  men,  of 
whom  two  were  frozen  to  death  by  the  intense  cold. 
The  rest  of  the  night  was  consumed  in  recrossing  the 
river,  and  before  morning  the  last  transport  had  landed 
the  last  Patriot  soldier,  with  the  spoils  of  the  thousand 
prisoners-of-war,  on  the  Pennsylvania  side.  The  turn 
ing-point  of  Independence  had  been  passed. 

PRINCETON  (January  3,  1777). — Howe  was  still  at 
New  York  when  the  news  arrived  of  Washington's  bril 
liant  performance  on  the  Delaware.  Cornwallis  was  on 
the  point  of  departing  for  Europe,  but  was  recalled, 
and  on  January  2,  marched  at  the  head  of  7000  of 
the  best  troops  of  the  British  army  on  Trenton,  "  to 
wipe  out  the  late  mortifying  disgrace,  rescue  the  van 
quished,  and  by  a  single  overwhelming  blow  annihilate 
the  rebels." 

Again,  on  December  30,  1776,  was  the  Delaware 
crossed  by  Washington  and  his  crusaders  of  freedom. 
Washington  knew  that  the  enemy  was  superior  to  him 
in  numbers  and  discipline.  At  a  council  meeting  he 
observed  that,  from  the  number  of  hostile  troops  then 
in  front  of  them,  it  was  reasonable  to  suppose  that 
Cornwallis  could  not  have  left  many  in  the  rear.  He 
proposed  to  move,  by  a  secret  night  march,  to  Prince 
ton — thence,  if  no  insuperable  difficulties  presented 
themselves,  to  push  on  to  New  Brunswick — and  in  this 
way  to  surprise  the  rear-guard,  and  capture  their  stores 
before  the  British  general  could  come  up.  The  plan 
was  approved  and  steps  taken  for  putting  it  into  exe 
cution.  At  midnight  the  march  began.  Every  precau 
tion  was  taken  to  mask  the  removal  of  the  troops,  and 
to  deceive  the  enemy  as  to  what  was  intended.  Men 
were  employed  all  the  night  digging  an  entrenchment 
close  to  the  British  sentries;  the  bivouac-fires  were  kept 
burning;  and  a  certain  number  of  guards  were  ordered 


86  THE  BATTLES   OF  AMERICA. 

to  remain  at  the  bridge  and  the  fords  until  the  approach 
of  daylight,  when  they  were  to  follow  their  comrades. 

A  rapid  roundabout  march  of  eighteen  miles  brought 
the  Patriots  to  the  eastern  skirts  of  Princeton  on  the 
morning  of  January  3,  1777.  The  contending  forces 
being  equal  in  numbers  and  field-pieces,  the  ground  was 
fiercely  contested.  The  Patriots  were  at  first  thrown 
into  some  confusion  by  the  unwavering  obstinacy  and 
vigorous  resistance  they  encountered ;  but  by  great 
personal  exertions,  in  which  his  own  life  was  recklessly 
exposed,  Washington  rallied  his  men,  and,  leading  his 
raw  levies  to  within  30  yards  of  the  enemy,  made 
one  headlong  charge.  The  British  regiments  broke 
and  fled,  unable  to  resist  the  terrible  onslaught  of  such 
men.  200  lay  dead  and  bleeding  on  the  field,  and  a 
large  number  were  brought  in  as  prisoners. 

The  loss  of  the  Patriots  in  this  affair  has  never  been 
ascertained,  the  accounts  varying  from  thirty  to  one 
hundred.  The  chief  loss,  however,  was  General  Mercer, 
Colonel  Haslett,  of  the  Delaware  line,  Colonel  Potter, 
of  Pennsylvania,  Major  Morris,  Captain  William  Ship- 
pen,  Captain  Neal,  of  the  artillery,  Captain  Fleming,  who 
commanded  the  7th  Virginia  Regiment,  and  three  other 
officers. 

Washington  desired  to  make  a  forced  march  on  New 
Brunswick,  and  he  did  in  fact  pursue  the  regiments 
which  he  had  broken  up  in  the  morning  a  considerable 
distance  along  the  road  ;  but  the  soldiers,  who  had  been 
without  rest,  and  very  scantily  supplied  with  food,  for 
thirty-six  hours,  and  of  whom  many  were  insufficiently 
clad,  and  barefooted,  were  so  utterly  worn  out  that  the  de 
sign  could  not  be  completed.  After  a  brief  pause  for 
rest  and  refreshment,  Washington  advanced  to  Morris- 
town,  where  he  went  into  winter-quarters.  New  Jersey 
was  redeemed  at  this  Battle  of  Princeton ;  and  the 
colonies  were  saved. 


IN  AND  AROUND   PHILADELPHIA.  37 

The  first  great  result  of  Washington's  march  to 
Princeton,  in  the  rear  of  the  enemy's  position,  was  that 
Cornwallis  was  obliged  to  relinquish  his  posts  on  the 
Delaware.  But  that  was  not  all.  From  his  vantage 
ground  at  Morristown,  Washington  sent  out  detach 
ments  to  harass  the  troops.  Giving  them  no  rest,  but 
repeating  the  blows  with  the  greatest  rapidity  in  various 
directions,  he  compelled  Cornwallis  to  abandon  one 
post  after  another,  and  to  withdraw  towards  New  York. 
East  and  West  Jersey  were  equally  overrun  by 
the  Patriots,  who,  in  a  little  while,  made  them 
selves  masters  of  the  coast  opposite  Staten  Island.  As 
the  winter  progressed,  not  a  British  or  Hessian  regi 
ment  remained  in  the  province,  except  at  New  Bruns 
wick  and  Amboy ;  Philadelphia  was  removed  from 
danger;  and  the  frequent  surprise  and  cutting-off  of 
advanced  guards  created  a  wide  alarm.  For  six  months, 
however,  nothing  further  of  importance  occurred. 
Howe  remained  at  New  York,  tamely  acquiescing  in  his 
loss  of  the  Jerseys.  The  Patriot  troops  at  Morristown 
were  encamped  for  the  winter  in  temporary  huts,  and 
cantonments  were  established  at  various  points.  Thence 
they  could  readily  issue  forth  on  their  rapid  excursions 
against  the  foe ;  but  no  general  action  was  hazarded 
while  the  new  army  was  as  yet  imperfectly  organized. 
Still,  the  gain  had  been  neither  slight  nor  fugitive. 
The  tide  was  not  yet  at  its  highest,  but  it  had  begun  to 
turn.  American  independence  was  now  assured. 

Nothing  could  exceed  the  effect  of  these  successes. 
In  New  Jersey  the  alteration  in  public  sentiment  was 
remarkable.  Towards  the  close  of  1776,  the  King  had 
so  many  adherents  in  that  province  that  the  Patriot 
army,  in  its  retreat  from  New  York  to  the  Delaware,  was 
received  almost  as  a  host  of  invaders.  On  numerous 
houses  along  the  road,  bits  of  red  rag  were  seen  nailed 
upon  the  doors,  as  tokens  of  attachment  to  the  Crown; 


88  THE  BATTLES   OF  AMERICA. 

and  the  British  troops  who  followed  were  greeted  as  if 
they  had  been  deliverers.  By  the  spring  of  1777,  all  this 
had  changed.  The  British  and  Hessian  soldiers  had 
behaved  with  such  cruelty  and  arrogance,  that  the  peo 
ple,  in  a  few  months'  time,  came  to  hate  them.  As 
Washington's  forces  regained  possession  of  the  State, 
they  found  abundant  evidence  that  the  people  were 
no  longer  monarchical.  Everywhere,  the  bits  of  red  rag 
were  being  torn  down  from  the  houses  with  haste  and 
enthusiasm.  The  rapid  successes  of  the  Patriot  arms 
had  rallied  multitudes  to  the  revolutionary  cause.  This 
was  the  case  not  merely  in  New  Jersey,  but  in  many 
other  parts  of  the  confederated  States.  A  feeling  of 
confidence  was  re-born.  The  hopeless  despondency  of 
the  previous  months  was  dissipated.  It  was  seen  that 
the  King's  army  was  not  invincible,  that  the  soldiers 
of  the  Republic  were  capable  of  victory,  and  were 
being  handled  with  skill  and  resolution.  With  the 
restoration  of  confidence,  the  feeling  of  nationality  was 
proportionately  strengthened.  The  recruiting  of  the 
army  went  on  more  rapidly  than  it  had  yet  done  ;  and 
several  who  had  talked  of  leaving  the  ranks  as  soon  as 
they  were  legally  free  to  do  so,  now  willingly  remained, 
in  the  hope  of  future  distinction. 

From  this  date,  the  American  army  became  worthy 
of  the  name. 

BRANDYWINE  (September  1 1,  1777). — Howe,  having 
spent  the  summer  at  New  York,  where  he  was  closely 
watched  by  Washington,  finally  took  the  field,  and 
manoeuvred  to  force  the  Patriot  army  to  a  general  fight. 
But' Washington  was  too  wary  for  him.  Howe  now  left 
New  York  with  1 8,000  men,  embarking  on  his  brother's 
fleet,  and  brought  his  army  around  by  sea,  landing  at 
the  head  of  Chesapeake  Bay,  with  a  view  of  capturing 
Philadelphia.  Howe's  mysterious  movements  had 


IN  AND  AROUND  PHILADELPHIA.  gg 

caused  great  embarrassment  in  the  Patriot  camp. 
Washington  was  sorely  troubled  during  these  weary 
days  of  waiting,  hesitation  and  anxiety ;  and  it  was  only 
when  the  enemy  had  entered  the  bay  that  any  correct 
idea  could  be  formed  of  his  intended  attack. 

The  judicious  disposition  of  his  forces  by  Wash 
ington  in  the  meantime  had  so  completely  covered  the 
Capital,  however,  that  the  enemy  was  unable  to  take 
any  advantage  ;  and  when  he  landed  below  the  head  of 
the  Elk,  on  August  25,  the  Patriot  forces  were  ready 
to  oppose  him.  Washington  had  not  8000  effectives  at 
his  command,  while  Howe,  who  had  been  reinforced 
from  home,  could  reckon  on  the  services  of  30,000  good 
troops. 

Washington,  fully  conscious  of  the  great  inferiority 
of  his  army  to  that  by  which  he  was  opposed,  fell  back 
from  his  first  position  after  a  few  skirmishes,  in  which 
his  troops  were  not  altogether  unsuccessful,  and  with 
drew  behind  the  Brandywine,  a  small  creek,  which  falls 
into  the  Delaware  near  Wilmington.  Taking  possession 
of  the  high  grounds  near  Chad's  Ford,  he  awaited  the 
attack  of  the  enemy.  The  fords  above  were  guarded  by 
his  right  wing,  under  General  Sullivan  ;  and  the  position 
on  the  left  was  held  by  General  Armstrong,  at  the  head 
of  the  Pennsylvania  militia. 

At  daybreak  on  September  n,  the  enemy  was  in 
motion,  and  the  success  which  had  attended  the  move 
ments  on  Long  Island,  the  previous  year,  induced  Howe 
to  attempt  a  similar  manoeuvre  in  this  case.  For  this 
purpose  the  army  had  been  divided  into  two  commands, 
and  advanced  in  two  columns  against  the  Patriots.  The 
right  column,  with  5000  men,  was  commanded  by 
General  Knyphausen,  who  took  the  direct  road  to 
Chad's  Ford.  The  left  column,  under  Cornwallis,  num 
bering  13,000  men,  turned  the  right  flank  of  the  Patriot 
army ;  a  dense  fog,  which  enveloped  the  country,  greatly 


QO  THE  BATTLES  OF  AMERICA. 

facilitating  the  movements  by  concealing  them  from  the 
Patriot  scouting  parties.  It  was  not  wholly  concealed, 
however,  Washington  receiving  information,  through 
Sullivan,  of  the  movements,  although  the  strength  of 
the  enemy  seems  to  have  been  strangely  underrated, 
probably  in  consequence  of  the  fog  concealing  his 
numbers. 

Washington  ordered  Sullivan  to  cross  the  Brandywine 
and  attack  Cornwallis,  while  he  would  take  the  centre 
and  attack  Knyphausen.  Before  these  movements  could 
be  executed,  intelligence  reached  Sullivan  that  nothing 
had  been  seen  to  excite  alarm  ;  and  this  last  report  being 
confirmed,  Washington  and  Sullivan  reoccupied  their 
positions.  This  change  of  purpose  decided  the  fortunes 
of  the  day — the  victory  had,  in  reality,  been  gained  by 
the  strategy  of  Howe. 

On  receipt  of  correct  information,  Sullivan  again 
moved  the  three  brigades  forming  the  right  wing  of  the 
army  to  meet  Cornwallis,  and  took  a  strong  position, 
with  his  left  extending  nearly  to  the  Brandywine,  both 
flanks  covered  with  very  thick  woods,  and  his  artillery 
advantageously  disposed.  In  consequence  of  a  dispute 
respecting  the  right  of  the  line — the  post  of  honor — 
between  Sullivan  and  a  French  officer  named  Deborre, 
the  division  was  not  fully  prepared  for  action,  when 
Cornwallis  and  the  troops  under  his  command,  about 
four  o'clock  in  the  afternoon,  swept  over  Osborne's 
Hill,  in  three  columns,  and  attacked  it  with  great  fury. 
The  Hessians  led  the  attack,  and  as  they  advanced  in 
an  unbroken,  well-dressed  column,  they  were  severely 
harassed  by  a  company  of  Patriot  light  troops.  The 
artillery  of  both  armies  opened  with  terrible  effect,  and 
the  conflict  became  general  and  severely  contested. 
With  an  obstinacy  which  older  troops  might  have  been 
proud  of,  the  Patriots  maintained  their  ground,  and  re 
pelled  charge  after  charge  from  the  powerful  and  well- 


LORD   CORNWALLIS. 


Q2  THE  BATTLES    OF  AMERICA. 

disciplined  force  which  opposed  them,  until  over 
whelming  numbers  forced  them  to  yield.  The  noble 
800  of  which  this  brigade  was  composed  could  do  but 
little  in  opposing  the  enemy,  however,  although  they 
maintained  their  ground  for  a  considerable  time.  Two 
of  Sullivan's  aides  were  killed,  and  Lafayette  was 
wounded  in  the  leg  by  a  musket-ball,  when,  further  re 
sistance  being  useless,  the  remnants  of  the  brigade  re 
treated,  leaving  the  enemy  master  of  the  position. 

Washington  now  left  Generals  Wayne  and  Maxwell 
to  oppose  Knyphausen,  while  he  and  Greene  and  the 
brigades  of  Weedon  and  Muhlenberg,  hastened  to 
strengthen  Sullivan.  He  was  not  in  time  to  prevent  the 
retreat,  but  by  skilful  movements  he  received  the  fugi 
tives,  covered  their  retreat,  checked  the  progress  of  the 
enemy,  and  kept  him  at  bay  during  the  rest  of  the  day. 

When  the  report  of  the  artillery  reached  Knyphausen, 
he  attacked  the  position  occupied  by  General  Wayne 
and  the  Pennsylvania  troops.  The  latter,  with  the 
light  troops,  under  Maxwell,  defended  their  position 
with  great  gallantry  until  intelligence  of  the  defeat  of  the 
right  wing  was  received,  when  a  retreat  was  ordered, 
and  in  great  disorder,  and  with  the  loss  of  all  their  artil 
lery  and  stores,  they  fell  in  on  Greene's  rear. 

During  the  succeeding  night  Washington's  defeated 
forces  retreated  to  Chester,  and,  on  the  following  day, 
to  Germantown,  where  they  encamped. 

The  Patriots  were  routed,  Philadelphia  was  taken,  and 
the  British  army  went  into  quarters  there  and  at  Ger 
mantown. 

The  strength  of  the  armies  hasneverbeen  accurately  as 
certained.  Washington's  effective  troops  did  not  exceed 
1 1,000  men  ;  while  the  force  of  the  enemy  was  estimated 
to  have  been  18,000  strong,  with  abundance  of  every 
thing  necessary  for  the  prosecution  of  such  a  campaign. 

The  loss  of  each  is  also  a  subject  of  doubt.     Howe 


THE   MARQUIS    DE  LAFAYETTE. 


93 


94  THE  BATTLES  OF  AMERICA. 

reported  to  his  government  the  loss  of  90  killed,  468 
wounded,  and  6  missing.  Washington,  from  the  dis 
connected  condition  of  the  army,  found  it  impossible  to 
make  a  return  of  his  loss.  Howe  reported  that,  in 
cluding  400  prisoners,  the  loss  of  the  Americans  was 
about  1300  men. 

GERMANTOWN  (October  4,  1777). — These  disasters 
forced  on  Congress  the  necessity  of  again  leaving  Phila 
delphia.  On  September  i8,the  members  determined  to 
remove  to  Lancaster,  where  they  met  on  the  27th,  and  on 
the  same  day  adjourned  to  York,  where  they  assembled 
on  the  3Oth. 

The  arrival  of  Howe  at  Philadelphia  was  followed,  at 
the  beginning  of  October,  by  the  sailing  of  the  fleet 
under  his  brother,  Lord  Howe,  from  the  Chesapeake  to 
the  Delaware,  that  it  might  be  employed  in  forcing  the 
defences  of  the  latter  river.  To  aid  this  work,  a  de 
tachment  of  troops  was  stationed  on  the  left  bank  of 
the  Delaware,  in  New  Jersey.  A  large  part  of  the 
army  was  at  Germantown  and  the  remainder  at  Phila 
delphia.  This  divided  state  of  the  British  forces  sug 
gested  to  Washington  the  idea  of  a  sudden  attack  on 
his  opponent,  such  as  might  enable  him  to  recover  the 
capital  of  the  State.  The  British  encampment  extended 
across  the  village  of  Germantown,  at  right  angles  with 
the  main  road.  Fourteen  miles  off,  the  Patriots  were 
posted  near  Skippack  Creek,  one  of  the  affluents  of  the 
river  Schuylkill.  They  began  their  march  on  the 
evening  of  October  3,  divided  into  four  columns,  which 
were  to  approach  the  British  by  four  distinct  routes, 
and  simultaneously  burst  on  their  right,  left,  centre,  and 
rear  at  Germantown.  Howe's  forces  were  evidently 
unprepared  for  such  an  attack,  which  took  them  com 
pletely  by  surprise.  The  action  began  a  little  after  day 
break  with  a  bayonet-charge  of  great  vehemence.  The 


LORD    HOWE,   COMMANDER   OF  THE  BRITISH   FLEET. 


95  THE  BATTLES   OF  AMERICA. 

fighting  was  for  a  time  very  hot  at  the  centre  and  on 
the  Patriots'  left ;  but  the  attempt  was  unsuccessful,  as 
others  which  had  preceded  it.  So  thick  a  fog  prevailed 
at  the  time — and  it  soon  got  thicker  from  the  smoke  of 
the  firing — that,  at  a  distance  of  thirty  yards,  it  was  im 
possible  to  distinguish  one  army  from  the  other;  and 
this  led  to  bewilderment  and  confusion.  The  failure  of 
the  enterprise  is  described  by  Washington  in  a  letter  to 
his  brother,  where  he  writes  : — "After  we  had  driven 
the  enemy  a  mile  or  two — after  they  were  in  the  utmost 
confusion, and  flying  before  us  inmost  places — after  we 
were  upon  the  point,  as  it  appeared  to  everybody, 
of  grasping  a  complete  victory — our  own  troops  took 
flight,  and  fled  with  precipitation  and  disorder.  How  to 
account  for  this,  I  know  not;  unless  the  fog  represented 
their  own  friends  to  them  for  a  reinforcement  of  the 
enemy,  as  we  attacked  in  different  quarters  at  the  same 
time,  and  were  about  closing  the  wings  of  our  army 
when  this  happened."  Want  of  ammunition  in  the 
right  wing,  which  began  the  engagement,  contributed  to 
the  discomfiture  of  the  design.  Each  man  took  with 
him  forty  rounds  ;  and,  in  the  course  of  the  two  hours 
and  a  half  during  which  the  fighting  continued,  these 
were  completely  exhausted. 

Considerable  courage  and  good  conduct  had  been 
shown  at  the  commencement  of  the  action,  and  the 
British  regiments  were  at  first  thrown  into  disorder  ; 
but,  having  recovered  themselves  with  the  steadiness  of 
veterans,  they  inflicted  terrible  blows  on  their  antago 
nists.  "  In  a  word,"  says  Washington  to  his  brother,  "  it 
was  a  bloody  day."  Our  loss,  in  killed,  wounded,  and 
missing,  was  as  many  as  a  thousand ;  and,  of  the  miss 
ing,  it  is  probable  that  many  took  "  advantage  of  the 
times,"  and  deserted.  Howe  reported  his  loss  at  71 
killed,  450  wounded,  and  14  missing.  His  troops  had 
not  prevailed  without  paying  heavily  for  it,  as  at 


IN  AND  AROUND   PHILADELPHIA.  ^ 

times  the  contest  was  furious.  The  Patriot  army  re 
tired  to  its  camp  at  Whitemarsh,  fourteen  miles  distant; 
and  Howe  sought  safety  by  retiring  to  Philadelphia. 

Defeated  though  they  were,  the  Patriots  were  not 
entirely  losers  by  this  transaction,  which  showed  that 
they  were  equal  to  bold  and  daring  enterprises  in  the 
open  field.  The  effect  from  a  political  point  of  view 
was  very  important.  Washington's  courageous  course 
and  the  unconquerable  resolve  with  which  he  nerved 
his  handful  of  beaten  and  half-starved  troops  to  face 
Howe's  army  is  the  noblest  of  his  triumphs.  It  made 
a  deep  impression  on  the  French,  who,  in  1778,  made  a 
treaty  of  alliance  with  us. 

After  these  battles  Howe  turned  his  attention  to 
the  forts  on  the  Delaware,  which  prevented  his  bringing 
supplies  up  to  Philadelphia.  The  gallant  defenders  were 
forced  by  severe  bombardments  to  evacuate  ;  and  Wash 
ington  retired  for  winter-quarters  to  Valley  Forge. 


CHAPTER  VI. 

THE  CAMPAIGN  AT  THE  NORTH. 

BENNINGTON  AND  SARATOGA. — Burgoyne  had  been  in 
England  during  the  early  months  of  1777,  and  had 
there  concerted  with  the  Ministry  a  plan  of  the  cam 
paign.  The  army  placed  at  his  disposal  consisted  of 
more  than  7000  regulars  (English  and  German),  to 
gether  with  a  great  number  of  Canadians  and  Indians. 
This  army  was  to  be  aided  by  a  division  under  Clinton, 
who  was  stationed  at  New  York,  and  was  to  advance  in 
a  northerly  direction.  A  naval  armament  was  also  to 
accompany  this  Burgoyne  expedition. 

Burgoyne  undertook  to  force  his  way  down  from 
Canada,  through  Lake  Champlain  and  Lake  George, 
to  the  Hudson  River.  He  was  expected  to  capture 
Albany,  and  make  a  junction  with  the  British  forces  at 
New  York.  The  effect  of  this  would  have  been  to  cut 
the  United  Colonies  in  two. 

On  June  16  Burgoyne  sent  a  detachment  to  make 
a  diversion  towards  Lake  Oswego  and  the  Mohawk 
River,  while  he  sailed  up  Lake  Champlain.  A  few  days 
later,  he  encamped  at  Crown  Point,  where  he  met  his 
Indian  allies,  gave  them  a  war-feast,  and,  in  a  grandilo 
quent  speech,  sought  at  once  to  excite  their  courage 
and  curb  their  disposition  to  ferocity.  Burgoyne  and 
Carleton  had  both  doubted  the  propriety  of  employing 
these  barbarians;  but  it  was  part  of  the  Ministerial 

(93) 


GENERAL   BURGOYNE. 


Independence— 1 


I00  THE  BATTLES  OF  AMERICA. 

scheme  that  their  assistance  should  be  sought.  Many 
incidents  of  the  campaign  showed  how  deeply  criminal 
was  the  use  of  savage  warriors  in  a  contest  between  two 
branches  of  a  civilized  race.  Burgoyne  issued  a  procla 
mation  to  the  inhabitants  of  the  country,  in  which  he 
threatened  vengeance  against  the  people  if  they  opposed 
the  Royal  troops,  and  alluded  to  the  fury  of  the  Indians, 
who  were  ready  to  butcher  the  friends  of  independence. 
He  was  very  confident  as  to  the  results  of  his  campaign  ; 
and,  in  an  address  to  the  army,  said  :  "  The  services 
required  of  this  particular  expedition  are  critical  and 
conspicuous.  During  our  progress  occasions  may  occur 
in  which  neither  difficulty,  nor  labor,  nor  life  are  to  be 
regarded.  This  army  must  not  retreat."  It  did  more 
than  retreat ;  it  surrendered. 

Burgoyne  marched  south  from  Canada  with  over  800 
men.  He  compelled  St.  Clair  to  evacuate  Ticonderoga, 
and  captured  the  artillery  and  all  the  stores  that  St.  Clair 
was  trying  to  move.  He  then  went  to  Skenesborough 
(now  Whitehall),  at  the  south  end  of  Lake  Champlain. 
At  length  he  reached  the  Hudson,  at  Fort  Edward, 
having  gained  complete  control  of  Lake  Champlain  and 
Lake  George.  General  Schuyler  exhibited  praise 
worthy  energy  in  preparing  for  the  defence,  but,  having 
but  a  small  force,  could  only  obstruct  his  path 
through  the  wilderness  by  felling  trees  across  the  road, 
and  breaking  down  bridges.  Burgoyne  had  in  a  few 
days  gained  possession  of  the  strong  forts  on  the  lakes, 
destroyed  a  number  of  vessels,  and  taken  128  pieces  of 
artillery,  besides  a  large  quantity  of  provisions,  stores, 
and  materials  of  war.  His  success  spread  the  utmost 
alarm  throughout  the  northern  part  of  the  Republican 
Union,  and,  in  the  same  degree,  raised  sanguine  hopes 
in  England  that  the  rebellion  was  about  to  be  crushed. 

From  Fort  P^dward,  Burgoyne  sent  a  force  of  his  hired 
Hessians  into  what  is  now  Vermont,  to  capture  stores 


102  THE   BATTLES   OF  AMERICA. 

and  horses.  But  the  militia  of  Western  New  England, 
who  were  accustomed  to  the  use  of  firearms  from  child 
hood,  gathered  under  the  lead  of  General  Stark,  and  at 
the  BATTLE  OF  BENNINGTON  (August  16,  1777),  utterly 
defeated  the  detachments  sent  out  by  Burgoyne.  To 
gether  with  a  large  number  of  arms,  700  prisoners  were 
taken  by  Stark,  and  207  of  the  enemy's  force  were  left 
dead  on  the  field.  The  Patriot  loss  was  30  killed  and 
about  40  wounded. 

This  event  was  the  harbinger  of  good  news  from  the 
Northern  department — that  scene  of  disaster  and  trouble. 
The  invader  was  paralyzed,  the  prospect  of  a  supply  of 
provisions  became  more  gloomy,  the  dissatisfaction  of 
the  British  forces  that  Hessians  had  been  employed  was 
loudly  expressed,  and  the  Indian  auxiliaries  abandoned 
the  army.  As  soldiers  these  sanguinary  savages  were 
worthless.  They  disgraced  the  cause  for  which  they 
pretended  to  fight.  The  spirits  of  the  Patriots,  and  of 
the  people,  revived;  the  ability  of  the  militia  to  contend 
with  regular  troops,  posted  behind  entrenchments  and 
defended  with  cannon,  was  demonstrated;  the  move 
ments  of  Burgoyne,  and  his  abilities  to  do  mischief, 
were  checked ;  and  new  hopes  and  new  resolutions 
were  produced.  The  country  and  the  world,  then  and 
since,  has  determined  that  the  battle  of  Bennington, 
unimportant  as  it  may  appear,  was  one  of  the  most 
important  battles,  in  its  results,  of  the  American  Revo 
lution. 

After  the  failure  of  his  attempt  to  obtain  supplies 
from  Bennington,  Burgoyne  was  obliged  to  fetch  his 
provisions  once  more  from  Fort  George,  and  at  last,  by 
great  exertions,  succeeded  in  collecting  a  stock  sufficient 
for  thirty  days ;  during  which  time  he  hoped  to  reach 
Albany,  effect  a  union  with  Howe's  forces,  separate  the 
Eastern  from  the  Middle  and  Southern  Colonies,  and 
lay  the  foundation  for  that  complete  subjugation  of  the 


THE   CAMPAIGN  AT  THE  NQR'!^ 

rebellious  colonists  which  was  the  object  of  the  govern 
ment  and  the  King.  He  was  soon  unpleasantly  con 
vinced  that  his  recent  repulse  had  had  a  very  bad  effect 
on  the  population  generally.  The  disloyal  were  encour 
aged  ;  the  loyal  disheartened.  The  latter  had  begun  to 
enlist  in  the  British  service;  but  they  now  hesitated  and 
held  back.  The  revolutionists  were  all  the  more  inclined 
to  take  up  arms.  Every  day  the  patriotic  levies  grew 
in  number  and  waxed  in  spirit.  The  New  England 
men  enlisted  in  large  bodies;  many  not  waiting  for  any 
authoritative  summons.  In  a  few  weeks  Burgoyne  had 
in  his  front  a  force  of  13,000  irregulars — admirable 
marksmen  with  the  rifle,  if  they  were  nothing  else.  An 
officer  in  Burgoyne's  army  records  that  in  many  poor 
habitations  the  people  of  Massachusetts  parted  with  one 
of  their  blankets,  where  they  had  but  two,  for  the  use 
of  the  soldiers.  In  New  England,  the  feeling  was  almost, 
if  not  quite  unanimous.  The  masses  were  prepared  to 
suffer  anything,  rather  than  submit. 

THE  TWO  BATTLES  OF  SARATOGA  (September  19  and 
October  7,  1/77). — On  September  13  and  14,  Bur 
goyne  crossed  to  the  west  side  of  the  Hudson,  and  en 
camped  on  the  heights  and  plains  of  Saratoga,  twenty 
miles  below  Fort  Edward,  and  thirty-seven  above 
Albany.  Gates  was  at  Stilhvater,  and  not  more  than 
twelve  miles  separated  the  two  armies.  The  bridges 
between  them,  however,  were  broken  down,  and  the 
roads  were  so  bad  that  the  British,  encumbered  by 
their  train  of  artillery  and  numerous  wagons,  could 
only  move  with  extreme  slowness.  Thick  woods 
burdened  the  country.  Frequent  skirmishing  took 
place,  but  the  advance  of  the  British  was  not  checked. 
On  the  evening  of  the  I7th,  Burgoyne  encamped  within 
four  miles  of  the  Patriot  army,  which  was  drawn  up  in 
front  of  Stilhvater,  along  a  range  of  low  hills  called 


104 


THE   BATTLES   OF  AMERICA. 


Bemis's  Heights.  This  encampment  had  been  planned 
by  the  Polish  Patriot,  Kosciusko,  of  whom  Washing 
ton  had  spoken  as  "  a  gentlemen  of  science  and  merit." 
On  September  19,  Burgoyne  placed  himself  at  the 
head  of  the  right  wing,  and  marched  against  his 
foes,  who,  not  waiting  to  be  attacked,  moved  forward 
also,  as  soon  as  they  perceived  the  approach  of  the 
British,  which  was  for  some  time  hidden  by  the  in 
tervening  forest. 
Gates,  who  was 
well  served  by  a 
number  of  active 
scouts,  detached 
Colonel  Morgan, 
the  dashing  ranger 
distinguished  for 
his  courage  before 
Quebec  and  at 
other  places,  to  ob 
serve  the  motions 
of  the  opposing 
forces.  Morgan  met 
the  advancing  col 
umn,  and  drove  it 
back  ;  but  the  men 
were  soon  rallied, 
and,  in  their  turn, 
compelled  the  Pa 
triots  to  give  way. 

The  engagement  shortly  afterwards  became  gen 
eral.  The  Patriots  first  attempted  to  turn  the  right 
flank  of  the  British  line,  but,  being  foiled  in  this, 
attacked  the  left  of  Burgoyne's  right  wing.  Reinforce 
ments  were  hurried  up  on  both  sides,  and,  in  the  course 
of  the  afternoon,  General  Arnold,  with  nine  Continental 
regiments  and  Morgan's  riflemen,  was  closely  engaged 


GENERAL    KOSCIUSKO. 


THE   CAMPAIGN  AT   THE   NORTH. 


105 


with  the  Royal  troops.  Most  of  Burgoyne's  artillery 
men  were  killed  at  their  guns,  and  the  carnage  generally 
was  terrible.  During  the  action  Burgoynehad  exposed 
himself  with  almost  reckless  courage,  and  it  is  surpris- 


PATRIOT    SHARPSHOOTER    UP   A   TREE. 


ing  that  he  should  have  escaped  unhurt.  Several  of 
the  Patriots  climbed  trees  in  the  rear  of  their  country 
men,  and,  whenever  the  volleys  ceased  for  a  few  minutes, 
and  the  air  cleared  of  smoke,  took  aim  at  the  British 


IO6  THE  BATTLES  OF  AMERICA. 

officers,  of  whom,  in  one  regiment,  more  than  two-thirds 
were  killed  or  wounded. 

For  four  hours,  until  sunset,  this  stubborn  conflict 
continued,  one  party  determined  to  conquer,  the  other 
not  to  be  conquered,  and  darkness  finally  accomplished 
what  man  was  unable  to  effect.  The  Patriots  retired 
from  the  field  in  good  order  and  without  pursuit,  claim 
ing  the  victory  because  they  had  checked  the  progress 
of  the  enemy;  the  British  retained  a  field  barren  alike 
of  advantage  and  glory,  claiming  also  to  be  victors,  from 
their  possession  of  the  field  of  battle. 

The  force  of  the  two  armies  actually  engaged  was 
nearly  equal,  the  Patriots  numbering  about  3000,  the 
enemy  about  3500  men. 

The  loss  on  the  part  of  the  enemy  was  about  600 
killed  and  wounded.  The  Patriot  loss  was  65  killed, 
218  wounded,  and  38  missing. 

Burgoyne  felt  it  was  unwise  to  make  a  fresh  attack, 
though  next  morning  he  took  up  ground  nearer  to  the 
American  lines.  Disliking  to  abandon  his  wounded,  he 
refrained  from  any  attempt  to  cut  his  way  to  Albany. 
He  was  now  almost  within  cannon-shot  of  the  enemy, 
and  a  pause  ensued,  during  which  both  combatants  forti 
fied  their  camps.  The  Patriots  were  greatly  inspirited 
by  hearing  that  General  Lincoln  had  assembled  a  for 
midable  body  of  New  England  militia,  and,  by  a  skilful 
disposition  of  them  in  the  neighborhood  of  the  lakes, 
had  cut  off  Burgoyne's  retreat  towards  Canada.  Before 
the  end  of  September,  a  portion  of  this  force,  amounting 
to  2OOO  men,  arrived  in  Gates's  camp,  and  added  still 
further  to  his  strength ;  and  at  the  same  time  several  of 
the  British  outposts  near  Ticonderoga  were  taken  by 
the  New  Englanders,  together  with  many  gunboats  and 
other  vessels,  which  were  afterwards  destroyed.  An 
attack  on  Ticonderoga  itself,  and  another  on  Diamond 


THE   CAMPAIGN  AT   THE   NOKTH. 


10; 


Island,  where  Burgoyne  had  deposited  all  the  stores  he 
had  collected  at  the  south  end  of  Lake  George,  were 
repulsed ;  but  altogether  the  Americans  had  greatly 
improved  their  prospects  by  these  operations.  The 
most  sanguine  anticipations  were  formed  throughout 
the  United  States ;  and  they  were  not  disappointed. 

Burgoyne  had  little  to  comfort  him  in  the  straits  to 
which  he  was  now  reduced.  He  endeavored  to  open 
communications  with 
Howe  and  Clinton,  but 
without  success.  From 
Clinton,  however,  on 
the  morning  of  Septem 
ber  21,  he  received  a 
letter  in  cipher,  inti 
mating  that  the  New 
York  highlands  would 
be  attacked  about  that 
time. 

No  news  of  the 
expected  co-operation 
having  arrived,  and  the 
situation  becoming  ev 
ery  day  more  despe 
rate,  Burgoyne,  on  Oc 
tober  7,  determined  to 
make  a  movement  to 
the  enemy's  left  with 

a  portion  of  his  force,  hoping  to  discover  a  favorable 
point  for  forcing  a  passage  through  the  opposing  lines. 
He  also  wished  to  divert  the  attention  of  the  American 
forces  while  another  part  of  his  army  was  sent  on  a 
foraging  expedition.  This  led  to  the  second  battle  of 
Bemis's  Heights.  The  English  troops  were  met  on 
their  way  by  a  large  detachment  from  Gates's  army,  and 
a  furious  combat  burst  forth.  Gates,  as  on  September 


GENERAL    BENJAMIN    LINCOLN. 


IO8  THE  BATTLES  OF  AMERICA. 

19,  remained  behind  in  his  encampment,  that  he  might 
superintend  the  general  operations  of  the  day.  Arnold 
was  there  also;  restrained  from  any  share  in  the  fighting 
by  Gates's  order — between  whom  and  himself  a  quarrel 
had  arisen  some  days  before.  In  consequence  of  this 
quarrel  Arnold  was  deprived  of  his  command ;  but  on 
the  pth,  hearing  the  firing  grow  louder  and  louder,  he 
mounted  his  horse  and  rode  off  to  the  field  of  battle. 
Mingling  with  the  combatants,  he  rode  from  regiment 
to  regiment,  searching  out  the  hottest  parts  of  the  action, 
and  issuing  orders  which  met  with  a  ready  obedience, 
and  contributed  largely  to  the  success  of  the  day. 

Arnold  was  resolved  to  push  his  advantage  still 
further.  He  gave  directions  that  the  British  lines 
should  be  stormed,  and  under  cover  of  a  raking  fire  of 
grapeshot  and  musketry  the  Patriots  flung  themselves 
against  the  entire  length  of  the  enemy's  works.  Charg 
ing  at  the  head  of  the  assailants,  Arnold  again  distin 
guished  himself  by  his  fiery  courage  and  resolution, 
but  was  ultimately  wounded  in  the  same  leg  which  had 
been  injured  at  Quebec.  Lincoln  also  was  seriously 
hurt.  The  Patriots  had  forced  their  way  into  the  left 
of  the  English  encampment,  but  were  ultimately  driven 
out  by  its  defenders  acting  under  Burgoyne's  immediate 
orders ;  but  the  right  and  rear  of  the  enemy's  position 
were  Opened  to  the  Patriot  army. 

A  second  time  the  close  of  day  put  an  end  to  the 
battle,  and  the  Patriots  were  this  time  acknowledged  to 
be  the  victors.  Besides  the  loss  of  the  field  on  which 
action  commenced,  and  the  entrenchments  of  the 
Hessian  reserve,  the  enemy  suffered  severely  in  the 
killed  and  wounded  among  his  officers  and  men.  Be 
sides  General  Frazer,  who  was  mortally  wounded,  Sir 
Francis  Clark,  aide-de-camp  of  Burgoyne,  and  Colonel 
Breyman,  were  killed,  and  Majors  Ackland  and  Wil 
liams  were  taken  prisoners,  the  former  wounded.  The 


IIO  THE   BATTLES   OF  AMERICA. 

exact  loss  of  the  enemy  is  unknown,  but  it  has  been 
supposed  to  amount  to  not  less  than  600  killed, 
wounded  and  prisoners.  The  loss  of  the  Americans 
did  not  exceed  150  killed  and  wounded,  among  the 
latter  of  whom  was  General  Arnold,  who,  just  as  the 
victory  had  been  won,  received  a  ball,  which  fractured 
his  leg  and  killed  his  horse. 

Though  only  partial,  the  success  of  the  Patriots  had 
been  great.  They  had  gained  a  position  on  the  British 
right  and  rear ;  they  had  disabled  many  of  their  adver 
saries  ;  they  had  made  more  than  200  prisoners,  includ 
ing  several  officers  of  distinction  ;  and  they  had  taken 
nine  brass  guns,  all  the  baggage  and  camp  equipage  of 
the  Hessian  brigade  that  had  been  defeated,  and  a 
large  supply  of  ammunition,  which  they  greatly  needed. 
The  state  of  affairs  was  so  threatening  for  the  Royal 
troops  that  in  the  course  of  the  night  they  quitted  their 
encampment,  and  took  up  a  fresh  position  on  some 
neighboring  hills,  with  their  right  extending  up  the 
river.  This  change  of  front  relieved  Burgoyne  from 
immediate  peril,  but  brought  him  no  nearer  victory. 
It  was  the  first  occasion  during  the  war  on  which, 
without  the  advantage  of  protecting  works,  without  any 
ambuscade  or  surprise,  in  the  open  field,  and  by  the 
operations  of  a  regular  pitched  battle,  the  Patriots  had 
proved  themselves  more  than  a  match  for  veterans. 

In  their  new  position  the  British  remained  through 
out  the  8th,  offering  battle,  which  Gates  declined  to 
accept,  but  made  every  arrangement  for  getting  still 
more  in  the  rear  of  the  enemy's  divisions.  Burgoyne, 
on  discovering  this  movement,  saw  that  he  had  no 
alternative  but  a  retreat  to  Saratoga.  Such  was  the 
sorry  result  of  an  expedition  which  had  been  prefaced 
by  the  lofty  announcement  that  "  this  army  must  not 
retreat."  His  troops  were  in  motion  by  nine  o'clock 
on  the  evening  of  the  8th.  The  sick  and  wounded  he 


THE   CAMPAIGN  AT  THE  NORTH.  m 

was  compelled  to  leave  behind  in  hospital,  commend 
ing  them  by  letter  to  the  kindly  consideration  of 
General  Gates,  which  in  the  event  was  not  found  want 
ing.  The  distance  to  be  traversed  was  barely  ten  miles  ; 
but  the  march  was  of  a  most  laborious  and  painful 
character.  Burgoyne  was  determined  not  to  relinquish 
his  artillery ;  yet  to  convey  it  was  a  matter  of  extreme 
difficulty.  Very  few  of  his  draught-horses  remained, 
and  the  roads  were  heavy  with  rain,  which  now  fell 
persistently.  The  guns  were  slowly  dragged  across 
the  intervening  country,  and  the  progress  of  the  army 
was  retarded  by  this  solicitude  and  by  the  necessity  of 
protecting  the  boats  upon  the  Hudson,  which  contained 
their  scanty  stores  of  provisions.  The  forces  did  not 
reach  Saratoga  until  the  following  night.  "Such  was 
their  state  of  fatigue,"  wrote  Burgoyne  at  a  subsequent 
date,  "  that  the  men,  for  the  most  part,  had  not  strength 
or  inclination  to  cut  wood  and  make  fires,  but  rather 
sought  sleep  in  their  wet  clothes  upon  the  wet  ground, 
under  the  continuing  rain."  It  was  the  main  body  of 
the  army  which  arrived  on  the  Qth.  Some  of  the 
troops,  and  the  whole  of  the  artillery,  were  so  much 
delayed  that  they  did  not  pass  the  fords  of  the  Fish- 
kill  until  the  early  morning  of  the  loth. 

No  real  advantage  had  been  gained  by  the  removal. 
A  division  of  the  Patriots,  marching  with  greater  rapidity 
than  the  weary  British,  had  got  beyond  Saratoga,  and 
occupied  the  fords  and  other  strong  positions  leading  to 
Fort  Edward.  Another  had  crossed  the  Hudson,  from 
the  opposite  shore  of  which  so  brisk  a  cannonade  was 
maintained  that  it  was  found  impossible  to  keep  the 
provision-boats  upon  the  river.  The  stores  of  food  were 
therefore  landed  on  the  western  side,  and  Burgoyne 
looked  about  him  to  see  what  new  dispositions  he  could 
make.  The  prospect  was  depressing  and  terrible.  On 
the  hills  round  Saratoga  the  Patriots  were  posted  in 


THE  BATTLES   OF  AMERICA. 

force,  so  as  to  command  the  roads  in  many  directions. 
For  a  time  it  occurred  to  Burgoyne  that  his  regiments 
might,  by  casting  aside  all  their  impediments,  escape  by 
night  to  Fort  Edward,  with  a  few  days'  food  upon  their 
backs.  To  prepare  the  way  for  this  movement,  he  sent 
forward  a  company  of  artificers,  escorted  by  troops,  to 
repair  the  roads  and  bridges,  but  was  soon  compelled  to 
recall  them,  owing  to  the  appearance  of  a  large  body  of 
Patriots,  ranged  so  as  to  indicate  an  intention  of  attack 
ing  the  Royal  army.  Another  scheme  that  suggested 
itself  to  Burgoyne  was  to  take  advantage  of  the  great 
reduction  of  the  enemy's  forces  towards  Bemis's 
Heights,  to  retrace  his  ground,  and  to  make  a  push  for 
Albany.  But,  upon  mature  consideration,  it  appeared 
only  too  obvious  that  such  a  manoeuvre  could  not  be 
accomplished.  The  army  from  which  so  much  had 
been  hoped  was  caught  in  a  trap,  and  the  necessity  of 
surrender  became  clearer  with  every  hour. 

On  October  13  Burgoyne  called  a  council  of  war. 
The  Patriots  were  on  the  ford  of  Saratoga ;  they  had 
taken  positions  on  both  banks  of  the  Hudson ;  they 
were  between  the  British  army  and  Fort  Edward;  they 
had  thrown  up  entrenchments,  provided  with  artillery, 
on  the  high  grounds  between  that  fort  and  Fort  George. 
On  three  parts  of  a  circle  they  were  strongly  posted  ; 
the  fourth  part,  though  open,  offered  but  slight  chances 
of  escape,  since  the  enemy  would  at  once  have  closed  in 
and  pursued,  had  any  movement  taken  place.  The  situ 
ation  of  the  British  army  was  so  absolutely  commanded 
by  the  American  cannon  that  no  spot  could  be  found  for 
holding  the  council  of  war  which  was  not  exposed  to 
the  fire  of  artillery  and  small  arms.  Burgoyne's  force 
was  now  reduced  to  less  than  6000  men,  of  whom  not 
many  more  than  half  were  British  ;  nearly  all  his  In 
dians  had  deserted  him  ;  and  of  provisions  no  more 
remained  than  would  suffice  for  a  week  or  eight  days, 


THE    CAMPAIGN  AT   THE  NORTH.  j^ 

Addressing  his  officers,  the  general  declared  that 
nothing  would  induce  him  to  propose  terms  to  the 
enemy  unless  he  had  the  full  concurrence  of  his  com- 
panions-in-arms,  and  that  he  was  ready  to  take  the  lead 


GENERAL   HORATIO    GATES. 

in  any  measure  that  might  be  thought  necessary  for 
vindicating  the  honor  of  the  British  arms. 

The  council  was  unanimous  for  treating,  provided 
that  honorable  terms  could  be  obtained. 

Negotiations  were  entered  into  with  General  Gage, 
and  the  capitulation  was  signed  on  the  l6th,  and  on 


H4  THE  BATTLES  OF  AMERICA. 

October  17,  1777,  Colonel  Wilkinson  was  directed  to 
visit  General  Burgoyne,  and  accompany  him  to  the 
Green  in  front  of  old  Fort  Hardy,  on  the  north  bank  of 
Fish  Creek,  near  its  intersection  with  the  Hudson, 
where  his  army  was  to  lay  down  its  arms. 

The  success  at  Saratoga  was  soon  followed  by  the 
evacuation  of  Ticonderoga  and  Crown  Point,  and  the 
power  of  the  enemy  in  the  North  was  prostrated.  Of 
the  effect  of  this  victory  it  has  been  beautifully  remarked 
by  Lossing,  that  "  all  over  the  land  a  shout  of  triumph 
went  up,  and  from  the  furrows,  and  workshops,  and 
marts  of  commerce ;  from  the  pulpit,  from  provincial 
halls  of  legislation,  from  partisan  camps,  and  from  the 
shattered  ranks  of  Washington  at  White  Marsh,  it  was 
echoed  and  re-echoed.  Toryism,  which  had  begun  to 
lift  high  its  head,  retreated  behind  the  defence  of  inac 
tion ;  the  bills  of  Congress  rose  twenty  per  cent,  in 
value;  capital  came  forth  from  its  hidingrplaces ;  the 
militia  readily  obeyed  the  summons  to  the  camp;  and 
the  great  patriot  heart  of  America  beat  strongly  with 
pulsations  of  hope." 

Nor  was  the  effect  of  this  victory  on  the  cause  of 
America  less  apparent  in  Europe  than  in  America.  In 
the  British  Parliament  the  opposition  led  a  terrible 
onslaught  against  the  Government ;  while  the  friends 
of  America  took  fresh  courage  and  manfully  sustained 
her  cause.  On  the  continent,  the  American  character 
and  the  American  representatives  were  more  respected, 
her  calls  for  aid  were  more  cheerfully  responded  to,  and 
France,  Spain,  Holland,  and  even  Russia  and  the  Pope, 
manifested  more  interest  in  the  ultimate  success  of  her 
cause. 

From  that  day  the  United  States  of  America  assumed 
a  position  among  the  nations  of  the  earth,  and  the  effect 
of  the  struggle  of  her  people  was  felt  throughout  the 
whole  world. 


CHAPTER  VII. 

THE  STORMING  OF  STONY   POINT  (July  16,  1779). 

No  portion  of  the  country  possessed  a  greater  degree 
of  interest,  during  the  war  of  the  Revolution,  and  none 
was  more  carefully  guarded  than  the  Highlands  on  the 
Hudson.  The  "  passes  "  in  these  hills  were  the  objects 
of  the  greatest  attention ;  and  the  student  of  the  history 
of  those  times  will  have  noticed  the  constant  reference 
to  that  subject  which  pervades  the  correspondence  of 
the  master  minds  which,  at  that  time,  under  God,  guided 
the  destinies  of  America. 

At  the  foot  of  these  Highlands,  on  the  west  side  of 
the  Hudson,  about  40  miles  above  the  city  of  New 
York,  is  Stony  Point — a  little  rough  promontory  which 
juts  out  into  the  river,  and  prepares  the  mind  of  the 
passer-by,  on  his  way  northward,  for  the  proper  atten 
tion  to  those  mighty  barriers,  which,  just  above,  arrest 
the  waters  of  the  noble  river  in  their  tranquil  progress 
towards  the  ocean.  "  The  river  washed  three-fourths 
of  its  base,  and  the  remaining  fourth  was  covered,  in  a 
great  measure,  by  a  deep  marsh,  which  commenced 
near  the  river,  on  the  upper  side,  and  continued  into  it 
below.  Over  this  marsh  there  was  but  one  crossing- 
place ;  but,  at  its  junction  with  the  river,  was  a  sandy 
beach,  passable  at  low  water." 

The  army  under  Washington,  in  accordance  with  the 
defensive  policy  adopted  by  Congress,  remained  in  its 

Independence — 8  ( I !  5) 


THE  BATTLES   OF  AMERICA. 


winter-quarters,    perfecting    its    discipline     under    the 
experienced   eye   of  Baron  Steuben,   and  preparing  to 
move  wherever  its  presence  might  be  found  necessary; 
that  under  Clinton,  equally  indisposed  to  move,  remained 
in  its  quarters  in  New  York,  and  showed  itself  only  in  an 
occasional  predatory  expedition  to  ravage  the  sea-coast, 
to  plunder  the  inhabitants,  or  to  burn  their  villages. 
In  the  latter  part  of  May,  Clinton  moved  up  the  Hud 
son,  with  the  evident 
intention  to  seize  the 
passes  in   the  High 
lands ;   and,  on  June 
I,  1/79,  ne  to°k  pos 
session      of      Stony 
Point     and    Ver- 
planck's     Point — the 
termini  of  "the  King's 
Ferry  " — at  both   of 
which    points    some 
works     had      been 
thrown    up    by    the 
Americans.     His  far 
ther    progress,  how 
ever,  was  arrested  by 
the  rapid  movements 
of  General  Washing 
ton  (who  had  received 
BARON  STEUBEN.  early  intelligence  of 

the  expedition),  and, 

after  leaving  strong  garrisons  at  both  these  posts,  he 
returned  to  New  York. 

The  enemy's  movement  against  the  coast  of  Connec 
ticut  was  intended  to  draw  Washington  farther  eastward, 
and  to  afford  Clinton  an  opportunity  to  complete  his 
design  ;  but  he  was  so  far  from  succeeding,  that  the 
former  took  advantage  of  the  division  of  the  enemy's 


THE  STORMING    OF  STONY  POINT. 


117 


forces  to  retaliate,  by  attacking  the  posts  which  the 
latter  had  just  secured  on  the  Hudson.  A  further 
inducement  to  do  this  was  offered  in  the  great  incon 
venience  which  the  Patriots  would  experience  in  being 
cut  off  from  the  great  line  of  communication  at  the 
King's  Ferry;  in  "  the  necessity  of  doing  something  to 
satisfy  the  expectations  of  the  people,  and  reconcile 
them  to  the  defensive  plan  he  was  obliged  to  pursue, 
and  to  the  apparent  inactivity  which  his  situation  im 
posed  upon  him  ;  "  in  the  value  of  stores,  artillery,  and 
men  which  it  contained ;  in  the  check  which  it  would 
exercise  on  the  predatory  movements  of  the  enemy  on 
the  Sound ;  and  in  the  effect  it  would  produce  on  the 
forces  if  the  campaign  could  be  opened  with  a  brilliant 
success. 

With  this  object  in  view,  Washington  employed  every 
means  in  his  power  to  obtain  information  respecting  the 
strength  and  disposition  of  the  troops  within  the  lines, 
the  character  and  extent  of  the  works  which  they  were 
erecting,  and  the  points  at  which  they  could  be  attacked 
with  the  greatest  certainty  of  success.  General  Wayne, 
who  commanded  the  light  infantry,  was  also  ordered  to 
headquarters;  and,  two  weeks  later,  the  same  officer,  in 
a  "  private  and  confidential  "  letter,  was  further  instructed 
to  make  the  preparations  necessary  for  the  assault  on 
the  works.  On  July  10,  the  commander-in-chief  com 
municated  his  views  of  the  enterprise  to  Wayne ;  and 
the  letter,  which  also  contained  the  details  of  the  pro 
posed  surprise,  is  one  of  the  most  remarkable  specimens 
extant  of  the  powerful  mind  of  this  great  man.  Every 
portion  of  the  preparations,  every  step  of  the  movements 
and  the  attendant  contingencies,  everything  which 
might,  possibly,  defeat  the  enterprise,  had  passed  his 
scrutiny.  The  reconnoitre,  the  watchword  and  badges 
by  which  the  men  were  to  be  distinguished  from  the 
enemy,  the  time  of  night  when  the  enemy's  sentries  and 


THE  BATTLES   OF  AMERICA. 

officers  of  the  night  were  least  vigilant,  the  necessary 
precautions  to  prevent  skulking  and  desertion,  and 
others,  the  most  trivial,  were  the  objects  of  his  care. 
Yet,  notwithstanding  all  this,  the  proposed  assault  was 
a  profound  secret.  The  brigade  of  troops  commanded 
by  General  Muhlenberg  was  selected  as  a  covering 
party,  yet  it  was  moved  with  some  other  apparent  object ; 
and  its  course  was  so  regulated  that  it  was  at  the  neces 
sary  point,  at  the  proper  moment,  so  far  as  the  brigade 
was  concerned,  by  accident  only,  without  knowing  its 
own  importance  in  the  great  drama.  The  enemy's 
artillery  was  to  be  turned  on  his  own  shipping,  opposite 
the  fort,  and  a  party  of  Patriot  artillerists  had  been  pro 
vided  for  that  purpose,  yet  they  took  with  them,  from 
the  park,  two  field-pieces,  as  a  mask  to  the  movement, 
and  to  prevent  suspicion  among  themselves. 

At  length,  on  July  14,  Washington  gave  permission 
to  Wayne  "  to  carry  it  (the  proposed  attempt)  into  exe 
cution,  to-morrow  night,  as  he  desired,"  at  the  same 
time  authorizing  him  to  adopt  either  of  the  several 
"  plans  "  on  which  they  had  conversed. 

But  Wayne  could  find  no  "  plan  "  better  adapted  to 
secure  the  object  of  the  expedition  than  that  suggested 
and  explained  by  his  chief. 

On  the  morning  of  July  15,  three  small  parties  of 
picked  men,  under  prudent  and  vigilant  officers,  were 
despatched  to  secure  the  passes  leading  to  Stony  Point. 

The  necessary  preparations  having  been  made,  the 
troops  assembled  at  Sandy  Beach,  14  miles  above 
Stony  Point;  and,  at  noon  on  July  I5th,  they  moved, 
over  the  hills  and  through  the  defiles  of  the  Highlands, 
towards  that  post.  The  roads  are  represented  as  hav 
ing  been  "  exceedingly  bad  and  narrow,"  compelling 
the  troops  to  move,  the  greater  part  of  the  distance,  in 
single  files  ;  and  it  was  eight  o'clock  in  the  evening 
before  the  van  of  the  column  reached  within  a  mile 


THE  STORMING   OF  STONY  POINT. 


and  a  half  distant  from  the  fort.  The  greatest  care  had 
been  taken  to  prevent  the  desertion  of  any  of  the  party, 
through  whose  treachery  the  enemy  could  be  informed 
of  the  expedition  ;  and  the  most  perfect  silence  was 
enforced  through  the  entire  route. 

While  the  troops  were  being  formed   into  columns, 


GENERAL  ANTHONY  WAYNE. 

General  Wayne  and  his  staff  rode  forward  to  reconnoi 
tre  ;  and  on  his  return  the  troops,  for  the  first  time, 
were  made  acquainted  with  the  service  to  which  they 
were  ordered.  Each  man,  at  the  same  time,  was 
ordered  "  to  fix  a  piece  of  white  paper  in  the  most  con 
spicuous  part  of  his  hat  or  cap,  to  distinguish  him  from 


12Q  THE  BATTLES   OF  AMERICA. 

the  enemy;  "  and  a  watchword — "T/ie  fort 's  our  oivn  "— i 
was  communicated  to  each,  with  orders  to  give  it  "  with 
repeated  and  loud  voice,"  "  when  the  works  were  forced, 
and  not  before" 

The  fort  on  Stony  Point  had  been  supplied  with  a 
sufficient  number  of  heavy  pieces  of  ordnance  ;  and  sev 
eral  breastworks  and  strong  batteries  were  advanced  in 
front  of  the  principal  works,  while,  farther  down  the 
hill,  on  the  land  side,  were  two  rows  of  abatis.  These 
several  defences  "commanded  the  beach  and  the  cross 
ing-place  of  the  marsh,  and  could  rake  and  enfilade  any 
column  which  might  be  advancing  from  either  of  those 
points  towards  the  fort.  In  addition  to  these  defences 
several  vessels  of  war  were  stationed  in  the  river,  so  as, 
in  a  considerable  degree,  to  command  the  ground  at  the 
foot  of  the  hill."  The  garrison  was  composed  of  the 
Seventeenth  regiment  of  foot,  the  grenadiers  of  the  Sev 
enty-first  regiment,  and  detachments  from  the  Loyal 
Americans  and  the  Royal  Artillery,  in  all  about  600 
men. 

With  the  utmost  silence  the  columns  pursued  their 
way,  until  the  small  stream  which  separates  the  point 
from  the  main  land  had  been  passed,  when  the  left  wing 
diverged  towards  the  eastern  flank  of  the  works ;  and 
the  right,  with  which  was  General  Wayne,  towards  the 
western  flank.  Soon  afterwards  the  North  Carolina 
light  troops,  under  Major  Murfey,  moved  from  the  rear 
of  the  left  wing  and  proceeded  directly  towards  the  fort, 
between  the  two  columns,  for  the  purpose  of  masking 
their  approach.  The  tide  being  up,  the  beach  was  cov 
ered  with  more  than  two  feet  of  water  ;  and,  soon  after 
the  columns  separated,  the  right  wing  encountered  one 
of  the  enemy's  outposts,  which  fired  on  the  assailants  and 
alarmed  the  garrison. 

In  the  meantime  Major  Murfey  pushed  forward  between 
the  two  columns,  and  opened,  and  kept  up,  a  heavy  fire 


THE    ASSAULT    ON    STONY    POINT. 


121 


122  THE  BATTLES  OF  AMERICA. 

on  the  enemy,  diverting  his  attention  from  the  real 
points  of  attack,  and  receiving  the  greater  part  of  the 
heavy  fire  of  musketry  and  artillery,  loaded  with  grape- 
shot,  which  was  opened  on  the  Patriots  from  the  works. 

With  this  exception  not  a  gun  was  fired  by  the  assail 
ants,  and  the  two  columns  pushed  forward,  through  the 
marsh,  in  perfect  silence.  The  abatis  was  cleared  with 
more  difficulty,  and  the  obstructions  thrown  in  their 
way  were  more  formidable  than  had  been  expected ;  yet 
"  neither  the  deep  morass,  the  formidable  and  double 
rows  of  abatis,  nor  the  high  and  strong  works,  in  front 
and  flank,  could  damp  the  ardor  of  the  troops,  who,  in 
the  face  of  a  most  tremendous  and  incessant  fire  of  mus 
ketry,  and  from  artillery  loaded  with  grape-shot,  forced 
their  way,  at  the  point  of  the  bayonet,  through  every 
obstacle,  both  columns  meeting  in  the  centre  of  the 
enemy's  works,  nearly  at  the  same  instant." 

Scaling  the  parapet,  and  creeping  through  the  embra 
sures  on  either  side,  the  assailants  raised  the  cry,  "  The 
fort's  our  own,"  and  drove  the  garrison  before  them, 
notwithstanding  the  most  desperate  resistance  was  of 
fered.  While  this  terrible  hand-to-hand  contest  was 
raging  within  the  fort,  Wayne,  who  had  been  wounded 
in  the  head  with  a  musket-ball,  was  laying  near  the 
abatis,  where  he  fell,  but  when  the  enemy  had  surren 
dered,  as  he  soon  did,  the  general  was  borne  into  the 
fort,  "  bleeding,  but  in  triumph."  Three  hearty  cheers 
from  his  victorious  troops  formed  the  salute  under  which 
the  daring  Wayne  was  carried  into  the  fort  to  re 
ceive  the  submission  of  the  garrison  :  and  the  neigh 
boring  "  Highlands,"  under  the  inspiration  of  the  mo 
ment,  caught  up  the  joyful  sound,  and  tossing  it  from 
hill-top  to  hill-top,  proclaimed,  "  The  fort's  our  own." 

No  time  was  lost  in  turning  the  guns  of  the  fort 
against  the  shipping  in  the  river,  and  against  Fort 
Fayette,  on  Verplanck's  Point,  conveying  to  them  the 


THE  STORMING   OF  STONY  POINT.  125 

information  that  Stony  Point  was  no  longer  in  the  pos 
session  of  the  King's  troops.  The  latter  received  the 
information  in  sullen  silence  ;  the  former  slipped  their 
cables  and  dropped  down  the  river  with  the  ebb  of  the 
tide. 

In  this  gallant  affair  the  Americans  lost  15  killed  and 
83  wounded;  the  enemy  I  officer  and  19  men  killed: 
6  officers  and  68  men  wounded  ;  2  officers  and  56  men 
missing ;  and  25  officers  and  447  men  prisoners. 

The  ordnance  and  stores  which  were  in  the  fort  were 
valued  at  nearly  $160,000,  and  this  amount,  in  conform 
ity  with  the  promise  of  General  Wayne  before  the 
assault,  was  divided  among  the  troops  in  proportion  to 
the  pay  of  the  officers  and  men;  besides  which  $1500 
were  divided  among  the  first  five  men  who  entered  the 
fort.  Congress  presented  its  thanks  to  the  troops,  and, 
in  accordance  with  the  suggestions  of  Washington, 
ordered  medals  to  be  struck  in  honor  of  the  event,  and 
presented  to  General  Wayne,  Colonel  Fleury  and  Major 
Stewart ;  the  country  was  filled  with  joy ;  and  even  the 
enemy  was  compelled  to  pay  homage,  not  only  to  the 
daring  of  the  assailants,  but  to  the  generous  mercy  of 
the  victors. 


CHAPTER  VIII. 

THE  CAMPAIGNS  AT  THE  SOUTH  (1778-1781). 

SAVANNAH  (December  29,  1778). — Clinton  was  now 
bent  on  carrying  the  war  into  the  Southern  States, 
which  as  yet  had  but  slightly  felt  the  effects  of  the 
rupture.  His  views  on  the  subject  had  been  confirmed 
by  the  Home  Government,  and  he  despatched  3500 
men  by  sea  to  Georgia.  The  command  was  conferred 
on  General  Prevost.  Savannah  was  defended  by  Gen 
eral  Robert  Howe,  but  without  success.  His  command 
did  not  exceed  550  men,  but  he  was  strengthened  soon 
after  with  the  command  of  Colonel  Charles  C. 
Pinckney,  and  others,  and  by  Governor  Houston  of 
Georgia,  at  the  head  of  350  militia.  With  this  little 
party  he  contested  the  possession  of  Savannah  with  the 
relatively  powerful  force  of  invaders. 

The  inhabitants  flocked  to  the  King's  officers,  and 
made  their  peace  at  the  expense  of  their  patriotism, 
and  Georgia  soon  became  one  of  the  most  loyal  of 
the  enemy's  possessions.  The  city  was  speedily 
mastered ;  Augusta  also  was  taken,  and  in  less  than  ten 
days  the  whole  province  was  reduced. 

General  Lincoln  was  now  appointed  to  the  command 

of  the  Southern  Department,  at  the  head  of  the  troops 

from   the  Carolinas,  and  was  joined  by  the  remains  of 

Robert   Howe's  little  force,  and  contented  himself  by 

(124) 


SIR  HENRY  CLINTON. 


125 


126 


THE  BATTLES  OF  AMERICA. 


attempting  to  protect  South  Carolina  from  th&  ravages 
of  the  enemy. 

Prevost  had  under  him  some  3000  men,  exclusive  of 
the  irregulars  who  had  joined  him  in  Georgia.  Lincoln 
had  3639  men,  of  which  number  12 1 1  were  inefficient; 
and  only  1121  were  regulars,  the  remainder  being 
inexperienced,  undisciplined,  and  restless  militia. 
Prevost  attacked  Port  Royal  and  Beaufort,  but  was 
driven  off  by  General  Moultrie.  Contented  with  his 

reception,  Prevost  made 
no  further  attempts  to 
pass  the  limits  of  Georgia, 
There  were  several  petty 
incursions  and  skir 
mishes,  but  the  British 
gained  no  honor  from  any 
of  these  expeditions. 


GENERAL   WILLIAM    MOULTRIE. 


SIEGE  OF  SAVANNAH 
(September  23  to  Octo 
ber  1 8,  17/9). — Prevost, 
though  compelled  to 
abandon  his  attempt  on 
South  Carolina,  and  to 
relinquish  the  upper  parts 
of  Georgia,  was  still  in 
a  position  to  keep  that 
region  in  a  state  of  alarm. 
D'Estaing,  on  his  return  from  the  West  Indies,  where  he 
had  been  successfully  engaged,  with  Admiral  Byron,  was 
requested  by  Governor  Rutledge,  of  South  Carolina,  and 
by  General  Lincoln,  to  visit  Savannah,  and  help  them  to 
expel  the  British.  He  assented,  and,  with  22  sail  of  the 
line,  a  number  of  small  vessels,  and  6000  soldiers,  ap 
peared  at  the  mouth  of  the  river  with  great  suddenness. 
Some  British  vessels,  being  surprised,  fell  into  his  hands, 


THE   CAMPAIGNS  AT  7 HE  SOUTH. 


127 


and  on  September  1 3  he  landed  half  his  force  at  Beaulieu. 
Some  of  Prevost's  regiments  had  been  scattered  among 
distant  outposts  in  Georgia,  and  in  the  island  of  Port 
Royal ;  but  they  were  hastily  called  in  on  news  arriv 


GENERAL   CHARLES    C.    PINCKNEY. 


ing  of  the  appearance  of  the  French  fleet.  On  reach 
ing  the  town  of  Savannah,  D'Estaing  summoned  the 
place  to  surrender,  and  Prevost,  to  gain  time,  requested 
a  suspension  of  hostilities  for  24  hours,  which  was 


THE   BATTLES   OF  AMERICA. 

granted.  By  extraordinary  efforts,  the  detachment  from 
Port  Royal  arrived  in  the  interval,  and  Prevost  then 
informed  the  French  commander  that  he  would  defend 
the  town  to  the  utmost.  When  the  whole  of  his  de 
tachments  had  reached  him,  he  had  under  his  orders  an 
army  of  nearly  2OOO  men.  The  forces  under  D'Estaing 
had  by  this  time  been  joined  by  those  of  General  Lin 
coln,  Colonel  M'Intosh,  and  Count  Pulaski.  Heavy 
artillery  and  stores  were  brought  up  from  the  fleet,  and 
on  September  23  the  siege  began.  For  several  days  a 
scathing  fire  was  poured  upon  the  walls,  not  only  from 
the  batteries  erected  by  the  besiegers,  but  from  a  float 
ing  battery  in  the  river.  Yet  no  sensible  effect  was 
produced,  and  Savannah  showed  no  sign  of  yielding. 

D'Estaing  was  disappointed,  and,  what  was  worse, 
he  was  placed  in  a  position  of  no  little  danger.  The 
tempestuous  season  was  on  the  eve  of  setting  in ;  it 
was  not  improbable  that  an  English  fleet  might  be  sent 
against  him,  or  might  imperil  the  conquests  which  he 
had  recently  made  in  the  West  Indies ;  and  a  further 
stay  in  the  Savannah  became  unadvisable,  unless  the 
town  could  be  taken.  The  besiegers  accordingly 
determined  to  make  an  attempt  at  storming  the  place. 
On  the  morning  of  October  9,  3000  French,  and  half 
that  number  of  Americans,  advanced  in  three  columns 
to  the  assault,  under  cover  of  a  heavy  bombardment. 
They  met  with  a  resolute  resistance  ;  but  the  attacking 
force  pressed  on,  broke  through  the  abatis,  crossed  the 
ditch,  and  mounted  the  parapet.  Pulaski  and  200 
horsemen,  inspired  by  a  desperate  valor,  dashed 
between  the  batteries  towards  the  town  ;  but  the  heroic 
Pole  fell  mortally  wounded,  and  the  squadron  broke. 
After  a  sanguinary  struggle,  lasting  fifty  minutes,  the 
besiegers  were  driven  from  the  works.  Both  the 
French  and  the  Americans,  but  especially  the  former, 
lost  a  large  number  of  men,  nearly  1000,  and,  as  the 


A  VT\      TM?  A  HTU      r\TT      T1TT1 


THE  BATTLES  OF  AMERICA. 

siege  was  now  quite  hopeless,  it  was  abandoned,  and  the 
armies  left  their  ground  on  the  evening  of  October  18. 

The  Americans  recrossed  the  Savannah  into  South 
Carolina,  and  the  French  hurriedly  embarked  on  board 
their  ships  and  left  the  coast;  thus  deserting  us  when 
their  help  was  most  needed. 

The  general  disappointment  felt  at  the  collapse  of 
this  enterprise  was  in  some  slight  degree  mitigated  by 
a  daring  and  clever  feat  executed  by  Colonel  White, 
of  Georgia.  On  the  night  of  September  30,  accom 
panied  by  only  six  volunteers,  he  made  such  an  appear 
ance  of  strength,  by  the  lighting  of  numerous  fires  in 
different  places,  and  by  other  artifices,  that  he  induced  a 
British  captain,  posted  near  the  River  Ogeechee  under 
protection  of  five  vessels,  to  surrender,  with  141  men, 
who  were  all  secured,  and  conducted  to  the  American 
post  at  Sunbury,  25  miles  off.  The  exploit  was  much 
to  the  credit  of  Colonel  White  ;  but  it  did  not  reconcile 
us  with  the  failure  at  Savannah.  With  the  raising  of  the 
siege  of  Savannah  the  campaign  of  1779  virtually  closed. 

SIEGE  OF  CHARLESTON  (March  29  to  May  12,  1780). — 
Clinton  was  resolved  not  to  let  the  winter  season  be  en 
tirely  one  of  rest.  He  could  do  nothing  in  the  North, 
where  the  extreme  cold  prevented  active  operations. 
He  determined  to  gain  possession  of  Charleston,  which 
would  give  him  a  hold  over  all  that  part  of  the  Union. 
He  sailed  from  New  York  on  December  26,  but  did 
not  reach  Savannah,  which  was  to  be  his  base  of  opera 
tions,  until  the  end  of  January,  1780,  owing  to  the 
stormy  weather  which  prevailed,  and  the  interruption  of 
the  American  cruisers,  which  managed  to  capture  some 
of  the  transports  and  store-ships.  Clinton  was  con 
voyed  by  Admiral  Arbuthnot,  "  with  a  naval  force  com 
petent  to  the  purpose,  and  which  was  superior  to  any 
thing  in  the  American  seas." 


THE   CAMPAIGNS  AT   THE   SOUTH.  j^I 

General  Lincoln  had  but  a  small  and  ill-regulated 
force  at  his  disposal,  and,  to  increase  its  weakness,  the 
several  divisions  were  scattered  in  various  places. 

After  repairing  the  injuries  to  his  army  and  fleet 
at  Savannah,  Clinton  proceeded  north,  and  landed  on 
St.  John's  Island,  thirty  miles  south  of  Charleston,  on 
February  n.  Thence  he  moved  to  the  island  of  St. 
James,  sending  forward  part  of  his  fleet  to  blockade  the 
harbor  of  Charleston,  and  advancing  cautiously  until  the 
reinforcements  which  he  had  ordered  should  arrive. 
This  slowness  of  approach  gave  Rutledge  and  Lincoln 
time  to  repair  the  fortifications  of  the  town,  and  to  take 
other  military  measures.  Elaborate  works  of  defence 
were  thrown  up  in  front  of  the  city,  and  between  the 
Rivers  Ashley  and  Cooper:  and  Lincoln  hoped  that,  if 
he  could  delay  the  besiegers  for  a  little  while,  reinforce 
ments  would  arrive  from  the  main  body  of  the  Conti 
nental  army,  and  compel  the  enemy  to  abandon  his  at 
tempt.  The  fortifications  were  constructed  under  the 
direction  of  M.  Laumoy,  a  French  engineer  in  the  Amer 
ican  service,  and  they  compelled  Clinton  to  make  his 
approaches  in  regular  form.  Clinton  did  not  hasten  his 
advance,  but  erected  forts  and  formed  magazines  at 
proper  stations  as  he  proceeded,  and  secured  his  com 
munications  with  those  forts  and  with  the  sea.  On 
April  I  Clinton  arrived  before  the  walls  of  Charleston, 
and  on  the  9th  Admiral  Arbuthnot  anchored  within 
reach  of  its  seaward  guns.  The  American  naval  force, 
under  Commodore  Whipple,  retired  before  the  British 
fleet,  and  his  vessels,  being  obviously  incapable  of  re 
sistance,  were  dismantled,  and  made  to  contribute,  by 
their  artillery  and  seamen,  to  the  land  defences  of 
the  beleaguered  city.  When  Clinton  had  finished 
his  first  parallel,  which  was  on  the  day  of  Arbuthnot's 
arrival  with  the  fleet,  and  had  mounted  his  guns,  he 
summoned  General  Lincoln  to  surrender  the  town. 

In  depe  x  dunce— 9 


THE  BA  TTLES   OF  AMERICA. 

Lincoln  refused  to  forsake  his  charge,  and  his  adversary 
at  once  opened  fire. 

Rutledge  and  half  of  his  council  now  took  advantage 
of  the  country  to  the  north  being  still  open,  and  left  the 
city,  that  they  might  carry  on  the  government  of  the 
State  elsewhere,  and  might  at  the  same  time  rouse  the 
local  militia.  Posts  of  militia  were  established  between 
the  Cooper  and  the  Santee,  to  cover  the  retreat  of  the 
Charleston  garrison,  if  they  should  be  obliged  to  retire ; 
but  Clinton  blocked  up  that  avenue,  by  directing  Tarle- 
ton  and  a  corps  of  light  dragoons  to  dislodge  the  Amer 
ican  posts  beyond  the  Cooper.  That  officer  was  con 
ducted  during  the  night  of  April  14,  by  a  negro  slave, 
through  unfrequented  paths  to  the  scene  of  action,  where, 
suddenly  bursting  upon  the  astonished  Carolinians,  he 
killed  or  captured  several  and  dispersed  the  rest.  The 
arrival  of  Cornwallis,  with  3000  men,  from  New  York, 
on  April  18,  and  the  entrance  of  the  fleet  into  the 
harbor,  had  enabled  the  enemy  to  strengthen  the  troops 
which  had  been  engaged  in  cutting  off  the  communica 
tion  between  the  town  and  the  country,  and  prevented 
the  completion  of  the  works  which  Lincoln  had  com 
menced. 

Charleston  was  now  completely  invested,  the  second 
parallel  was  completed,  and  the  spirits  of  the  garrison  be 
gan  to  decline.  An  evacuation  was  talked  of;  but  the  idea 
was  soon  abandoned  as  impracticable.  The  investing 
lines  were  soon  after  strengthened,  and,  on  April  21, 
terms  of  capitulation  were  offered,  but  rejected.  A  third 
parallel  was  commenced,  and  the  despairing  garrison 
made  a  sortie,  but  without  any  important  results. 

On  May  7  the  garrison  of  Fort  Moultrie,  where  the 
works  had  been  suffered  to  fall  into  decay,  surrendered 
themselves  prisoners  of  war,  immediately  on  being  sum 
moned  to  do  so  by  Admiral  Arbuthnot.  The  cavalry 
which  had  escaped,  and  which  had  by  this  time  reas- 


THE   BATTLES   OF  AMERICA. 

sembled,  were  again  surprised  and  defeated  by  Tarleton 
on  two  occasions ;  and  the  condition  of  the  defenders  of 
Charleston  was  now  so  forlorn  and  hopeless — the 
troops  being  exhausted  by  incessant  duty,  many  of 
the  guns  dismounted,  and  the  supplies  of  food  almost 
consumed — that  terms  of  capitulation  were  once  more 
proposed  on  May  8,  but  without  success,  as,  in  the 
opinion  of  Clinton,  too  many  concessions  were  required. 
Knowing  the  town  was  in  his  power,  he  could  afford  to 
wait.  The  batteries  of  the  third  parallel  did  terrible  ex 
ecution.  Shells  and  carcasses,  in  one  unresting  storm, 
were  thrown  into  several  parts  of  the  town,  and  many 
houses  were  set  on  fire.  The  besiegers'  works  were 
within  100  yards  of  the  walls  ;  and,  in  addition  to  the 
cannon  and  mortars,  the  rifles  of  the  Hessian  Chasseurs 
produced  such  effect  that  few  escaped  who  showed 
themselves  above  the  lines.  The  American  engineers 
had  declared  that  the  lines  could  not  be  defended  ten 
days  longer;  and  when,  on  May  11,  the  British  crossed 
the  wet  ditch  by  sapping  and  draining,  and  commenced 
preparations  for  a  general  assault  by  sea  and  land,  a 
panic  seized  on  all  within  the  town. 

The  garrison  and  the  inhabitants — with  such  slender 
defences,  so  poorly  supplied  with  stores  and  provisions, 
and  so  feebly  supported  by  the  militia  of  South  Caro 
lina — performed  wonders  ;  and  after  the  surrender  their 
gallantry  elicited  the  admiration  of  the  enemy  who  had 
overpowered  them.  At  length  their  provisions  failed, 
and  rice,  coffee,  and  sugar  were  the  only  food  of  the 
garrison.  The  intelligence  of  this  fact  soon  reached  the 
enemy's  camp.  A  shell,  filled  with  rice  and  sugar,  and 
thrown  into  the  town,  soon  attracted  the  attention  of 
the  garrison,  because  it  did  not  explode,  and  told,,  in 
terms  of  ridicule,  that  its  distress  was  known  to  the 
enemy;  when,  in  a  spirit  of  proud  defiance,  the  same 
shell,  filled  with  hog's  lard  and  sulphur  (itch  ointment), 


THE   CAMPAIGNS  AT  THE  SOUTH.  j^ 

was  thrown  into  the  Scotch  regiments,  in  the  parallels, 
inviting  them,  in  contemptuous  terms,  to  employ  that 
remedy  to  cure  their  traditional  national  infirmity. 

Some  of  the  militia  threw  down  their  arms ;  others 
begged  of  General  Lincoln  to  accept  Clinton's  terms  ; 
the  civilians  were  clamorous  for  a  surrender,  and  the 
Patriot  commander,  after  enduring  the  siege  for  forty 
days  and  suffering  a  terrible  bombardment,  signified  his 
readiness  to  accept  the  conditions  of  the  stronger.  A 
capitulation  was  signed  on  the  next  day,  and  Charleston 
passed  into  the  possession  of  the  British  troops. 

Clinton  stipulated  that  the  town  and  fortifications,  the 
shipping,  artillery,  and  all  public  stores,  were  to  be  given 
up  as  they  then  were ;  but,  as  regarded  the  surrender  of 
the  troops,  the  garrison  were  to  inarch  out  of  the  town, 
and  lay  down  their  arms  in  front  of  the  works,  and  were 
to  remain  prisoners  of  war  until  exchanged. 

The  Patriot  loss  was  92  killed  and  146  wounded,  and 
about  20  of  the  inhabitants  were  killed  in  their  houses. 
The  enemy's  loss  was  76  killed  and  189  wounded. 

CAMDEN  (August  16,  1780). — Georgia  having  been 
subdued,  the  war  was  renewed  in  South  Carolina. 
Charleston,  as  we  have  seen,  was  attacked  by  land  and 
sea,  and  after  sustaining  a  siege  of  40  days,  and  a  terri 
ble  bombardment,  was  forced  to  surrender.  Clinton 
returned  to  New  York,  leaving  Cornwallis,  the  ablest  of 
the  English  officers,  in  command.  Gates,  "  the  con 
queror  of  Burgoyne,"  assumed  command  of  the  troops, 
and  marched  to  meet  Cornwallis  near  Camden. 

The  forces  under  Gates  were  composed  chiefly  of 
militia — those  from  Virginia  numbered  800  men  under 
General  Stevens,  and  those  from  North  Carolina  2100 
men,  under  General  Caswell ;  besides  which  he  had 
Colonel  Armand's  Legion  of  Regulars,  about  120  men; 
the  Maryland  line  and  the  Delaware  regiment — the 


136 


THE  BATTLES   OF  AMERICA. 


latter  the  well-known  "  Blue  hen's  chickens/'  numbering 
about  900  men  ;  about  70  volunteer  cavalry  ;  and  nearly 
IOO  artillerymen — in  all  about  4100  men,  exclusive  of 
Captain  Sumter's  command,  of  whom  3052  were  "  pres 
ent,  fit  for  duty."  The  British  had  122  officers,  and 
2117  men,  commanded  by  Cornwallis,  who  left  Charles 
ton  for  that  purpose. 

Each  party,  ignorant  of  the  intended  movement  of 
his  adversary,  had  fixed  upon  ten  o'clock  in  the  evening 
to  begin  a  night  attack.  The  strictest  silence  was 
enjoined  upon  the  troops,  and  orders  were  given  to  put 
to  death,  instantly,  any  "  soldier  who  offered  to  fire 
without  the  command  of  his  officer."  Singularly  too, 
the  same  silence  that  had  been  imposed  on  the  Patriots 
had  been  ordered  on  the  British  troops,  'and  thus  the 
columns  unexpectedly  encountered  each  other  in  the 
woods.  After  some  sharp  skirmishing  the  armies  waited 
for  day. 

At  daybreak  Gates  attempted  to  make  some  change 
in  the  disposition  of  the  troops.  The  experienced  eye 
of  Cornwallis  at  once  perceived  the  advantage  which 
Gates  was  tendering  to  him,  and  promptly  seized  that 
moment  to  begin  the  attack  by  ordering  his  veteran 
troops  to  charge  the  moving  mass  of  militia  in  their 
front.  The  result  of  such  a  combination  of  untoward 
circumstances  ensued,  and,  after  a  single,  harmless  fire, 
the  militia,  forming  the  centre  and  left  wing  of  the 
Patriot  line,  threw  away  their  arms  and  sought  safety 
in  a  shameful  and  precipitate  retreat,  which  no  authority 
could  check,  no  entreaty  overcome.  One  regiment  of 
the  North  Carolina  troops  which  formed  the  right  of  the 
centre,  alone  remained  on  the  ground ;  and  these,  for  a 
short  time,  with  the  right  wing,  under  the  veteran 
De  Kalb,  gallantly  resisted  every  effort  of  Lord  Rawdon, 
and  maintained  their  ground.  At  length  De  Kalb,  at 
the  head  of  one  of  the  regiments,  made  a  vigorous  charge 


THE   CAMPAIGNS  AT  THE   SOUTH.  \^j 

on  the  enemy,  but  fell,  after  having  received  eleven 
wounds ;  and  was  subsequently  taken  prisoner.  A  few 
minutes  afterwards,  by  a  united  charge  of  the  cavalry 
and  the  foot,  the  little  remnant  of  the  Patriots,  no  longer 
sustained  by  the  presence  and  great  example  of  their 
general,  gave  way  before  superior  numbers,  and  aban 
doned  the  unequal  contest. 

So  closely  were  the  troops  pursued,  that  no  attempt 
could  be  made  to  rally  them.  "  Never  was  a  victory 
more  complete,  or  a  defeat  more  total.  Every  corps 
was  broken  and  dispersed  through  the  woods." 

Our  loss  on  this  disastrous  field  was  never  accurately 
ascertained.  The  noble  Delaware  regiment  was  nearly 
annihilated;  its  survivors,  consolidated  into  the  skeleton 
of  two  companies,  under  Captain  Kirkvvood,  remaining  a 
living  monument  of  the  determined  obstinacy  with  which 
it  maintained  its  position.  Of  the  regulars,  probably  about 
650,  in  the  aggregate,  were  killed,  wounded,  and  taken  ; 
of  the  North  Carolina  militia  about  100  were  killed  and 
wounded,  and  about  300  (63  of  them  being  wounded) 
were  taken  prisoners;  only  three  of  the  Virginia  militia 
were  wounded.  The  enemy  lost  68  killed,  245  wounded 
(including  several  officers),  and  II  missing.  13  pieces 
of  artillery,  22  ammunition  wagons,  2000  stand  of  arms, 
200  wagons,  the  greater  part  of  all  the  baggage,  all  the 
stores,  and  8o,OOO  musket-cartridges  were  among  the 
spoils  of  the  victory. 

All  organized  resistance  to  British  rule  now  ceased 
in  the  South.  The  defeat  at  Camden  closed  the  public 
military  services  of  General  Gates,  and  proved  the 
unsoundness  of  his  pretensions  as  a  military  commander. 

COWPENS  (January  17,  1781). — General  Greene,  who 
was  appointed  on  December  3,  1780,  to  succeed  Gates, 
found  the  army  to  consist  of  only  2000  half-clothed, 
half-starved  men,  without  discipline  or  supplies,  -and 


138 


THE  BATTLES  OF  AMERICA. 


without  means  of  obtaining  even  the  necessaries  of  life. 
Ragged  and  barefooted,  many  of  these  unfortunate 
creatures  were  reduced  to  the  extremity  of  wretched 
ness.  Some  weeks  before,  Greene  had  written  to  Reed 
that  they  were  living  upon  charity — subsisting  upon 
daily  contributions.  To  Washington  he  said  that  his 
militiamen  were  as  ragged  and  naked  as  the  Virginia 
negroes.  Yet  their  militiary  conduct  was  admirable, 
and  the  firm  discipline  of  Greene  was  visible  throughout 
the  ranks.  Not  a  sentinel  was  lost  by  desertion  ;  not  a 
murmur  was  heard  from  any  one. 

He  detached  General  Morgan,  with  about  600  men, 
to  take  post  in  the  country,  and  to  check  the  enemy's 
foraging  parties,  while  he  with  the  main  body  threat 
ened  Camden. 

Cornwallis  was  at  Winnsborough,  waiting  for  rein 
forcements  from  Charleston ;  and  Morgan's  activity  in 
checking  the  organization  of  Tories  induced  him  to  seek 
safety  in  an  attempt  to  cut  off  the  audacious  intruder. 
Tarleton  was  therefore  ordered  on  January  I  to  oppose 
the  movements  of  Morgan.  With  a  force  of  over  1000 
men  on  the  morning  of  the  1 6th,  he  took  possession  of 
an  advantageous  position  in  Morgan's  neighborhood. 

Tarleton's  movements  had  been  reported  to  Morgan, 
and,  having  refreshed  his  men,  preparations  were  made 
for  the  action.  His  numbers  were  not  quite  equal  to 
those  of  Tarleton,  but  his  troops  were  fresher.  There, 
on  the  morning  of  January  17,  he  was  attacked  by 
the  English  colonel,  who,  advancing  with  his  usual  im 
petuosity,  seemed  to  be  on  the  eve  of  another  striking 
triumph.  The  first  and  second  lines  of  the  Patriots 
were  speedily  thrown  into  confusion  ;  but  retreating  to 
the  top  of  a  hill,  they  rallied,  and  calmly  awaited  the 
British.  The  latter,  exhausted  by  their  previous  work, 
ascended  the  hill  in  some  disorder,  when  the  Patriots, 
headed  by  Colonels  Washington  and  Howard,  charged 


THE  CAMPAIGNS  AT  THE  SOUTH. 


139 


their  scattered  ranks  with  so  much  vehemence  and  fury 
that  they  gave  way  at  all  points,  and  were  pursued  to 
the  bottom  of  the  hill.  The  cannon  were  taken,  and  the 
greater  part  of  the  infantry  laid  down  their  arms.  The 
rest  escaped,  after  a  final  and  desperate  charge  by  Tarle- 
ton  at  the  head  of  40  horsemen.  Ten  commissioned 
officers,  and  100  privates,  had  been  killed  on  the  side  of 
the  British  ;  the  wounded  were  still  more  numerous; 
and  the  seizure  of  artillery,  muskets,  and  stores,  was 
considerable.  The  Patriot  loss  was  comparatively  slight, 
while  the  gain  to  the  cause  was  even  greater  than  it  ap 
peared  at  first. 

Cornwallis  was  vexed  and  astonished  at  the  result  of 
this  action;  but,  although  the  partial  destruction  of 
Tarleton's  detachment  had  seriously  reduced  his  forces, 
he  determined  to  make  a  vigorous  effort  to  retrieve  his 
fortunes. 

It  was  said  that  what  Bennington  was  to  Burgoyne, 
in  the  North,  the  Cowpens  were  to  Cornwallis,  in  the 
South,  the  source  of  untold  mischief,  and  the  precursor 
of  disaster  and  defeat. 

GUILFORD  (March  15,  I/Si). — General  Greene  was 
now  joined  by  Morgan  and  conducted  the  retreat.  Rein 
forcements  from  Virginia  and  North  Carolina  reached 
the  camp,  and  on  March  13  his  force — including  161 
cavalry,  and  1490  Continentals — numbered  4404  men. 
On  the  I4th,  he  moved  to  Guilford  Court  House,  within 
eight  miles  of  Cornwallis's  camp,  and  offered  battle; 
and  despatched  Colonel  Lee,  with  the  Legion,  as  an  ad 
vance-guard,  on  the  road  to  the  camp,  some  three  miles 
from  the  main  body. 

On  the  I5th,  Cornwallis  moved  from  his  position,  "to 
meet  Greene  on  the  way,  or  attack  him  in  his  camp." 

Taking  the  road,  with  Tarieton  in  tne  van,  and  the 
brigade  of  guards  in  his  rear,  he  was  met  by  Lee,  who 


140 


THE  BATTLES*  OF  AMERICA. 


after  skirmishing  with  the  advance  guard  for  some  dis 
tance,  suddenly  turned  on  it  and  cut  to  pieces  a  section 
of  Tarleton's  dragoons ;  pursued  and  drove  it  into  the 
light  infantry  of  the  Guards,  who  followed  it ;  and,  fol 
lowing  the  advantage,  inflicted  a  heavy  blow  on  the 
latter,  and  compelled  his  lordship  to  move  the  Welsh 
Fusilleers  to  support  the  advance  and  repel  the  assailants. 
The  captain  of  the  Guards  and  about  30  of  the  enemy, 
fell  in  this  attack;  while  Lee  and  his  party,  after 
winning  golden  opinions,  even  from  their  opponents, 
retired  with  but  little  loss;  and  the  enemy  approached 
the  position  occupied  by  General  Greene. 

The  militia  fled  at  the  first  fire,  but  the  Continental 
regulars  fought  as  in  the  time  of  De  Kalb,  with  great 
firmness  and  resolution.  The  Patriots  at  last  retired, 
but  the  British  had  bought  their  victory  so  dearly  that 
Cornvvallis  also  retreated.  Greene  again  pursuing,  Corn- 
wallis  shut  himself  up  in  Wilmington.  Thereupon 
Greene  turned  into  South  Carolina,  and,  with  the  aid  of 
Marion,  Lee,  Sumter,  and  Pickens,  nearly  delivered  this 
State  and  Georgia  from  the  British.  Cornwallis  refused 
to  follow  Greene  into  South  Carolina,  and  moved  north 
into  Virginia.  This  engagement  closed  the  long  and 
fiercely-fought  contest  at  the  South. 

The  Patriot  loss  was  87  killed,  181  wounded,  and 
1035  missing.  The  loss  of  the  enemy  was  99  killed, 
406  wounded  (among  whom  were  Generals  O'Hara  and 
Howard,  and  Colonel  Tarleton),  and  26  missing. 

The  only  advantage  Cornwallis  secured  was  the  field 
of  battle,  the  heavy  loss  he  had  experienced  rendered 
the  relative  strength  of  the  two  armies  more  advanta 
geous  to  the  Patriots.  The  great  abilities  of  Greene,  in 
bringing  on  this  engagement,  were  soon  apparent -in  the 
speedy  retreat  of  Cornwallis  from  his  dearly-bought 
position,  leaving  behind  him  about  70  of  his  wounded, 
and  in  the  pursuit  which  was  immediately  commenced 


THE   CAMPAIGNS  AT   THE   SOUTH.  \^\ 

by  the   Patriots,  and  continued   until  the  enemy  had 
found  safety  on  the  right  bank  of  the  Deep  River. 

THE  SIEGE  OF  YORK/TOWN  (September  28  to  October 
19,  1781). — The  enemy,  still  anxjously  seeking  to  estab 
lish  his  power  in  the  Southern  States,  had  sent  the 
traitor,  Arnold,  to  Virginia,  with  a  strong  detachment 
of  troops  to  co-operate  with  Cornwallis,  who  was  busily 
engaged  in  measuring  his  strength  and  skill  with  Gen 
eral  Greene.  Lafayette  was  sent  to  check  Arnold,  but, 
with  his  small  force,  could  accomplish  little.  Reinforce 
ments  from  France  were  now  hopefully  waited  for. 
Count  de  Grasse,  with  a  strong  fleet  from  the  West 
Indies,  was  expected  in  a  few  weeks.  A  conference  be 
tween  Washington  and  Count  Rochambeau  was  held, 
and  plans  of  the  campaign  were  discussed  and  de 
termined  upon. 

It  was  resolved  to  attack  New  York ;  and,  in  accord 
ance  with  these  plans,  the  allied  forces  of  America  and 
France  moved  against  that  city.  Every  necessary  pre 
paration  had  been  made  for  the  commencement  of  active 
operations,  when,  on  August  14,  Washington  received 
a  letter  from  De  Grasse,  saying  that  the  entire  French 
West  Indian  fleet,  with  more  than  3000  land  forces, 
would  shortly  sail  from  St.  Domingo  for  the  Chesapeake, 
intimating,  however,  that  he  could  not  remain  longer 
than  the  middle  of  October,  when  it  would  be  necessary 
for  him  to  be  at  his  station  again.  As  this  limited  time 
would  not  permit  the  necessary  operations  against  New 
York,  the  whole  plan  was  changed,  and  it  was  resolved 
to  proceed  to  Virginia,  with  the  whole  of  the  French 
troops  and  as  many  of  the  Americans  as  could  be 
spared  from  the  defence  of  the  posts  on  the  Hudson  ; 
and  instead  of  besieging  Clinton,  in  his  headquarters  in 
New  York,  a  movement  against  Cornwallis,  and  the  pow 
erful  detachment  under  his  command,  was  resolved  on. 


1 42  THE  BATTLES   OF  AMERICA. 

Washington,  by  a  feint  on  New  York,  kept  Clinton 
in  the  dark  regarding  his  plans  until  he  was  far  on  his 
way  south  with  the  Continental  army. 

The  troops  with  which  Washington  moved  to  the 
South,  embraced  all  the  French  auxiliaries,  led  by 
Count  Rochambeau ;  the  light  infantry  of  the  Conti 
nental  army,  led  by  Colonel  Alexander  Scammel ;  de 
tachments  of  light  troops  from  the  Connecticut  and 
New  York  State  troops ;  the  Rhode  Island  regiment ; 
the  regiment  known  as  "  Congress's  Own,"  under  Col 
onel  Hazen ;  two  New  York  regiments ;  a  detachment 
of  New  Jersey  troops ;  and  the  artillery,  under  Colonel 
John  Lamb ;  numbering,  in  the  aggregate,  about  2000 
Americans  and  a  strong  body  of  French.  It  is  said 
that  the  American  troops,  who  were  mostly  from  New 
England  and  the  Middle  States,  marched  with  reluc 
tance  to  the  southward,  showing  "strong  symptoms  of 
discontent  when  they  passed  through  Philadelphia," 
and  becoming  reconciled  only  when  an  advance  of  a 
monttis  pay,  in  specie — which  was  borrowed  from  Ro 
chambeau  for  that  purpose — was  paid  to  them. 

The  allies,  having  thus  successfully  eluded  the  watch 
fulness  of  the  enemy  in  New  York,  pressed  forward 
towards  Annapolis  and  the  Head  of  Elk,  whither  trans 
ports  had  been  despatched  from  the  French  fleet  to  con 
vey  them  to  Virginia;  and  on  September  25  the  last 
division  reached  Williamsburg,  where,  with  Lafayette 
and  his  command,  and  the  auxiliary  troops,  the  entire 
army  had  encamped. 

In  the  mean  time,  the  enemy,  as  well  as  the  French 
auxiliaries,  had  not  been  inactive.  Cornwallis,  vainly 
expecting  reinforcements  from  New  York,  had  concen 
trated  his  army  at  Yorktown  and  Gloucester,  on  oppo 
site  sides  of  the  York  River,  and  had  been  busily  em 
ployed  in  throwing  up  strong  works  of  defence,  and 
preparing  to  sustain  a  siege. 


THE   CAMPAIGNS  AT   THE  SOUTH. 


143 


Admiral  de  Grasse,  with  a  naval  force  of  26  sail  of 
the  line  and  some  smaller  vessels,  sailed  from  St. 
Domingo  on  August  5  ;  on  the  3Oth  he  entered  the 
Chesapeake  and  anchored  at  Lynn  Haven  ;  on  the  fol 
lowing  day  he  had  blockaded  the  mouths  of  the  James 
and  York  Rivers,  and  prevented  the  retreat  of  the  enemy 
by  water ;  and,  notwithstanding  the  absence  of  about 
1900  of  his  men,  besides  three  ships  of  the  line  and  two 
fifties,  with  their  crews,  had  gone  out  and  fought  with 
the  British  Admiral,  Graves,  and  his  19  sail  of  the  line. 
General  St.  Simon,  at  the  head  of  3300  French  troops, 
had  been  landed  from  the  fleet  on  September  2;  joined 
General  Lafayette  on  the  third ;  and,  on  the  fifth,  with 
the  latter  officer  and  his  command,  had  moved  down 
to  Williamsburg,  15  miles  from  York,  and  cut  off  the 
retreat  of  the  enemy  by  land.  Admiral  Barras,  with 
his  squadron  and  ten  transports,  having  on  board  the 
siege  artillery  and  a  large  body  of  French  troops, 
sailed  from  Newport  on  August  25,  and  entered  Lynn 
Haven  Bay  in  safety  on  September  10,  while  De  Grasse 
was  absent  in  engagement  with  Admiral  Graves. 

The  enemy's  fleet,  overawed  by  the  combined 
fleets  of  De  Grasse  and  Barras,  had  returned  to  New 
York,  leaving  Cornwallis  and  his  army  to  the  fortunes  of 
war ;  and  enabling  the  naval  force  of  the  allies  to 
co-operate  with  the  military  in  all  the  operations  of 
the  siege.  General  Heath  remained  in  the  vicinity  of 
New  York  to  protect  the  passes  in  the  Highlands,  and  to 
check  any  movement  which  Clinton  might  make  for 
the  relief  of  Cornwallis. 

Cornwallis  had  7000  troops  with  which  to  encounter 
the  army  that  was  being  drawn  about  him.  His  only 
chance  was  in  extending  his  defensive  works,  and  thus 
making  an  assault  almost  impossible.  By  the  end  of 
September,  he  had  erected  at  Yorktown  seven  redoubts 
and  six  batteries,  connected  by  entrenchments,  on  the 


144  THE  BATTLES   OF  AMERICA. 

land  side;  along  the  river  was  another  line  of  batteries; 
and  on  each  flank  of  the  town  were  the  natural  defences 
of  deep  ravines  and  creeks,  the  heads  of  which,  in  front 
of  the  town,  and  at  the  point  of  junction  with  York 
River,  were  about  half  a  mile  apart,  while  along  their 
course  he  had  planted  redoubts,  field-works,  and  felled 
trees,  with  their  branches  pointing  outwards.  The 
channel  of  York  River  was  obstructed  by  sunken  ves 
sels ;  ships  of  war  were  stationed  under  protection  of  the 
guns  of  the  forts;  and  Gloucester  Point,  on  the  opposite 
side  of  the  river,  was  also  strongly  fortified.  Such  was 
the  state  of  the  defences  when,  on  September  25,  the 
greater  number  of  the  French  and  American  troops 
encamped  near  Williamsburg.  On  the  night  of  that 
day,  Washington  and  his  staff  bivouacked  on  the  ground 
in  the  open  air.  The  Commander-in-Chief  slept  under 
a  mulberry -tree,  the  projecting  root  of  which  served  for 
his  pillow.  Next  day,  the  allied  armies  took  up  posi 
tions  on  the  two  sides  of  Beaver  Dam  Creek ;  the 
Americans,  who  formed  the  right  wing,  occupying  the 
east  side — the  French,  to  the  left,  covering  the  western 
bank. 

A  letter  from  Clinton  reached  Cornwallis  on  the 
evening  of  the  26th.  It  informed  him  of  the  arrival  of 
Admiral  Digby,  who,  with  a  fleet  of  23  ships  of  the  line, 
and  above  5000  troops,  would  sail  to  his  assistance 
about  October  5.  A  heavy  firing  would  be  made  by 
them  on  arriving  at  the  entrance  to  Chesapeake  Bay, 
and  Cornwallis,  if  all  went  well  at  Yorktown,  was  to 
respond  with  three  separate  columns  of  smoke,  or  with 
four  should  he  still  possess  the  post  at  Gloucester  Point. 
The  feeling  of  despondency  had  not  then  set  in,  or  at 
least  was  not  yet  avowed,  though  the  general  did  not 
think  his  position  a  good  one.  That  same  night,  Corn 
wallis  abandoned  his  outworks,  and  drew  his  troops 
within  the  town.  The  outworks  were  next  day  seized 


146  THE   BATTLES    OF  AMERICA. 

upon  by  detachments  of  American  light  infantry  and 
French  troops,  and  proved  serviceable  in  covering  the 
men  employed  in  throwing  up  breastworks.  Counting 
Americans  and  French,  Washington  had  now  at  his 
disposal  an  army  of  12,000  men,  exclusive  of  the  Vir 
ginian  militia.  On  the  night  of  September  28,  these 
combined  forces  encamped  within  two  miles  of  York- 
town,  and  General  de  Choisy  was  sent  across  York 
River  with  a  sufficient  detachment  to  watch  the  enemy 
on  the  side  of  Gloucester  Point.  Very  shortly  the  line 
of  the  besiegers  (where  the  Americans  still  formed  the 
right,  and  the  French  the  left,  wing)  described  a  semi 
circle,  each  end  of  which  rested  on  the  river,  thus  com 
pleting  the  investment  by  land,  while  Count  de  Grasse 
kept  guard  towards  the  sea.  On  October  3,  Choisy 
succeeded  in  cutting  off  all  communication  by  land 
between  Gloucester  and  the  country. 

The  first  parallel  before  Yorktown  was  commenced 
by  General  Lincoln  on  October  6.  It  was  within  600 
yards  of  the  British  lines,  extending  nearly  two  miles, 
and  was  begun  during  a  very  dark  night  with  so  much 
secrecy  that  Cornwallis's  troops  knew  nothing  about  it 
until  daylight.  The  fortifications  then  opened  fire,  but 
the  men  were  by  that  time  under  cover,  and  continued 
working  with  great  self-possession.  In  less  than  three 
days  the  parallel  was  completed,  and  on  the  afternoon 
of  the  Qth  a  few  of  the  batteries  were  ready  to  fire  upon 
the  town.  Washington  himself  put  the  first  match  to 
the  first  gun,  and  a  furious  discharge  of  cannon  and 
mortars  burst  forth,  producing  a  serious  effect  on  the 
buildings  against  which  it  was  directed.  The  batteries 
thus  brought  into  play  were  soon  aided  by  three  others 
managed  by  the  French  ;  and  the  cannonade  was  kept 
up  almost  incessantly  for  three  or  four  days.  Many  of 
the  British  guns  were  dismounted  or  silenced ;  several 
men  were  killed;  and  the  fortifications  suffered  to  a 


THE    CAMPAIGNS  AT   THE  SOUTH.  l^ 

serious  extent.  All  day  the  air  was  laced  by  the  black 
lines  of  shells  crossing  each  other's  paths ;  by  night,  the 
blackness  changed  into  a  brilliant  and  fiery  red,  filling 
the  heavens  with  a  glare  as  of  innumerable  meteors. 
The  French  batteries,  which  were  to  the  northwest  of 
the  town,  threw  red-hot  shot,  and  in  this  way  set  fire 
one  night  to  a  large  English  ship  and  three  transports. 
The  cavalry  were  greatly  distressed  for  want  of  forage 
for  their  horses,  and  many  of  the  animals  were  slain, 
and  sent  floating  down  the  river.  Moreover,  an  epi 
demic  had  broken  out  in  the  town,  and  hundreds  were 
stretched  helpless  on  their  pallets.  British  and  Hessians 
bore  their  hardships  with  great  patience  and  courage, 
and  everything  was  done  that  resolution  and  military 
knowledge  could  su^eest.  But  the  situation  was  des- 

o  o  o 

perate  from  the  first,  and  it  grew  worse  with  time. 

The  second  parallel  was  begun  by  Baron  Steuben's 
division  on  the  night  of  October  1 1.  It  was  not  more 
than  300  yards  from  the  opposing  works,  and  the  British 
now  made  new  embrasures,  and  for  two  or  three  days 
kept  up  a  galling  fire  on  the  besiegers,  who  were  still 
more  seriously  troubled  by  the  flanking  fire  of  two 
redoubts,  which  enfiladed  the  entrenchments,  and  were 
thought  to  command  the  communication  between  York- 
town  and  Gloucester.  These  it  was  resolved  to  storm 
on  the  night  of  the  I4th ;  and,  to  avoid  any  jealousy 
between  the  two  allied  nationalities,  it  was  arranged 
that  the  one  farthest  from  the  river  should  be  attacked 
by  a  French  detachment,  and  the  other  by  a  detach 
ment  of  Americans  under  the  command  of  Lafayette. 
The  signal  for  the  simultaneous  assault  was  the  send 
ing  up  of  rockets  at  eight  o'clock  in  the  evening.  The 
Americans  rushed  up  to  the  bastion  they  were  to  attack, 
pushed  aside  the  abatis  with  their  hands,  and  scrambled 
over  the  obstructions  which  stood  in  their  way.  With 
impetuous  daring,  the  men  mounted  the  parapet,  and 

Independence — 10 


I48  THE   BATTLES   OF  AMERICA. 

without  firing  a  musket,  carried  the  work  at  the  point 
of  the  bayonet.  The  French  were  equally  successful 
with  the  other  redoubt,  which  they  attacked  and  which 
was  defended  with  much  obstinacy.  In  the  end,  the 
position  was  carried,  though  not  without  considerable 
slaughter.  The  struggle  at  both  these  redoubts  was 
viewed  by  Washington  with  great  anxiety  from  the 
grand  battery,  together  with  Generals  Knox  and  Lin 
coln  and  their  staffs.  Taking  his  stand  at  an  embra 
sure,  he  was  open  to  the  danger  of  chance  shots,  and 
one  of  his  aides-de-camp  pointed  out  that  the  situation 
was  much  exposed.  "  If  you  think  so,"  replied  Wash 
ington,  "you  are  at  liberty  to  step  back."  A  few 
minutes  afterward,  a  musket-ball  came  in  at  the  open 
ing,  and  fell  close  to  the  Commander-in-Chief.  Gene 
ral  Knox  begged  him  to  move  ;  but  he  answered  that 
it  was  merely  a  spent  ball,  and  still  remained  at  his 
post.  When  the  redoubts  were  both  taken,  he  drew  a 
long  breath  of  relief,  and  observing,  "  The  work  is 
done,  and  well  done,"  called  for  his  horse,  and  departed. 
Howitzers  were  mounted  next  day  on  the  two 
redoubts,  and  the  works  of  the  besiegers  were  thus 
strengthened,  while  those  of  the  besieged  were  pro 
portionately  decreased.  Cornwallis,  who  had  been  los 
ing  heart  for  some  time,  now  wrote  to  Clinton  that  his 
situation  was  very  critical ;  that  he  dared  not  show  a 
gun  to  the  old  batteries,  and  that  he  expected  new  ones 
would  be  opened  on  the  following  morning.  Experience 
had  proved  that  the  earthworks  newly  thrown  up  did 
not  resist  the  powerful  artillery  of  the  allies  ;  "  so  that 
we  shall  soon  be  exposed  to  an  assault  in  ruined  works, 
in  a  bad  position,  and  with  weakened  numbers."  The 
safety  of  the  place  was  consequently  so  doubtful  that 
he  could  not  desire  the  fleet  and  army  to  run  the  risk 
of  endeavoring  to  save  them.  The  arrival  of  the 
promised  fleet  might,  however,  even  then  have  turned 


GENERAL  HENRY   KNOX. 


149 


150 


THE   BATTLES   OF  AMERICA. 


the  fortune  of  the  day  ;  but  no  sail  appeared  on  the  far- 
reaching  waters  that  spread  towards  the  Atlantic.  In 
this  extremity  Conuvallis  determined  on  making  a 
sortie  on  the  second  parallel.  On  October  16,  a  little 
before  day-break  350  men  attacked  two  of  the  enemy's 
batteries,  spiked  eleven  of  the  guns,  and  killed  or 
wounded  100  of  the  French.  But  the  cannon  had 
been  so  hastily  damaged  that  they  were  easily  repaired, 
and  by  the  evening  of  the  same  day  the  batteries  of 
the  second  parallel  were  nearly  ready.  There  was  now 
no  part  of  the  whole  front  on  which  the  guns  were  not 
dismounted  ;  and  the  shells  of  the  besieged  were 
almost  wholly  expended.  Cornwallis  had  therefore 
only  to  choose  between  preparing  to  surrender  next 
day,  and  endeavoring  to  get  off  with  the  greater  part  of 
his  troops.  He  determined  on  the  latter  course. 

He  planned  to  cross  the  river  during  the  night  with 
his  effective  troops  ;  to  leave  behind  him  his  sick,  bag- 
age,  and  other  encumbrances  ;  to  attack  the  French 
officer  who  commanded  on  the  Gloucester  side ;  to 
mount  his  infantry,  partly  with  the  horses  of  the  hostile 
cavalry,  which  he  hoped  to  overcome,  and  partly  with 
such  animals  as  he  might  find  by  the  way ;  to  push  on 
towards  the  fords  of  the  great  rivers  in  the  upper 
country;  and  then,  turning  northward,  to  pass  through 
Maryland,  Pennsylvania,  and  the  Jerseys,  and  so  join 
the  army  at  New  York.  For  the  carrying  out  of  this 
hazardous  enterprise,  16  large  boats  were  secretly  pre 
pared,  and  ordered  to  be  in  readiness  to  receive  troops 
that  night  at  ten  o'clock.  A  detachment  was  appointed 
to  remain  behind,  and  conduct  the  capitulation  for  the 
townspeople,  the  sick,  and  the  wounded  ;  and  a  large 
number  of  the  troops  were  transported  to  the  northern 
bank  of  the  river  before  midnight,  without  discovery. 
So  far,  the  scheme  had  gone  well ;  but,  under  the  best 
of  circumstances,  it  seems  very  improbable  that  it 


THE   CAMPAIGNS  AT  THE  SOUTH.  151 

should  have  succeeded.  Between  Yorktown  and  New 
York  lay  a  wide  extent  of  country  ;  in  the  rear  of  the 
retreating  army  was  an  army  greatly  superior  in  num 
ber  ;  and  it  is  certain  that  the  latter  would  have  started 
in  pursuit,  and  probable  that  it  would  have  overtaken 
and  defeated  the  fugitives,  unless,  as  Cornwallis  antici 
pated,  the  allies  had  directed  their  steps  towards  the 
south.  He  felt  his  position  to  be  so  desperate,  and  the 
thought  of  capitulating  was  so  bitter,  that  he  resolved 
to  dare  the  utmost  dangers  of  an  almost  hopeless 
attempt  at  extrication,  rather  than  agree  to  a  surrender 
before  every  means  of  avoiding  it  had  been  exhausted. 
Up  to  the  time  when  the  first  detachment  of  the 
British  troops  had  landed  at  Gloucester  Point,  the 
night  was  calm  and  fine;  but  a  storm  then  arose, 
scattering  the  boats  in  which  the  second  division  had 
already  embarked,  driving  them  a  long  way  down  the 
river,  and  putting  a  stop  to  the  further  transportation  of 
the  army.  The  boats  were  afterwards  brought  together 
again  with  some  difficulty;  but  it  was  then  too  late  to 
proceed  with  the  enterprise,  and,  on  the  morning 
of  the  I /th,  the  first  detachment  was  conveyed  back 
across  the  river  under  a  heavy  fire  from  the  American 
batteries.  The  guns  of  the  second  parallel  were  now 
playing  in  combination  with  those  of  the  first.  Great 
gaps  were  torn  in  the  already  crumbling  defences  of 
Yorktown;  it  was  obvious  that  an  assault  would  not 
be  long  delayed ;  and  it  could  hardly  be  supposed  that 
so  small  a  garrison,  exhausted  by  incessant  labors,  and 
many  of  them  weakened  by  disease,  could  resist  the 
onslaught  of  a  numerous  host.  All  hope,  then,  was  at 
an  end.  The  mortification  of  a  surrender  could  no  longer 
be  avoided.  The  fate  of  Burgoyne  was  to  be  shared  by 
Cornwallis.  Both  of  them  men  of  ability,  honor,  and 
courage,  they  had  nevertheless  placed  themselves  in  posi 
tions  from  which  escape  was  impossible ;  and  to  Corn- 


152 


THE   BATTLES   OF  AMERICA. 


wallis  was  reserved  the  additional  misery  of  reflecting 
that  so  serious  a  blow,  occurring  a  second  time,  would 
probably  ruin  the  British  cause  in  America  beyond  the 
possibility  of  redress. 

A  correspondence  ensued  to  arrange  the  terms,  of 
surrender.  Cornwallis  required  that  the  garrison, 
though  laying  down  their  arms  as  prisoners  of  war, 
should  be  sent  home — the  British  to  England  and 
the  Hessians  to  Germany — under  an  engagement  not  to 
serve  against  France,  America,  or  their  allies  until  'ex 
changed.  Washington  declared  these  terms  inadmis 
sible,  and  sent  a  copy  of  the  rough  articles  which 
had  been  prepared  to  Lord  Cornwallis,  with  a  note  ex 
pressing  his  -expectation  that  they  would  be  signed  by 
eleven  o'clock  on  the  I9th,  and  that  the  garrison 
would  be  ready  to  march  out  of  the  town  within  three 
hours  afterwards.  Finding  all  attempts  to  obtain  more 
advantageous  terms  unavailing,  Cornwallis  yielded  to 
the  necessities  of  the  case,  and  surrendered,  with  his 
entire  force,  military  and  naval,  to  the  arms  of  the 
allies. 

At  two  o'clock  in  the  afternoon  of  October  19,  the 
British  troops  marched  out  of  Yorktown,  with  drums 
beating,  muskets  shouldered,  and  colors  cased,  to  lay 
down  their  arms  before  the  American  and  French  army 
drawn  out  in  two  lines  (the  Americans  on  the  right  side 
of  the  road). 

The  ARMY,  with  all  its  artillery,  stores,  military -cl tests, 
&c.t  was  surrendered  to  General  Washington  ;  the  NAVY, 
witJi  its  appointments,  to  the  Admiral  de  Grasse. 

The  terms  were  precisely  similar  to  those  which  the 
enemy  had  granted  to  the  garrison  of  Charleston,  in  the 
preceding  year ;  and  General  Lincoln,  the  commander  of 
that  garrison,  on  whom  the  illiberality  of  the  enemy  then 
fell,  was  designated  as  the  officer  to  whom  the  sur 
render  should  be  made. 


THE   CAMPAIGNS  AT  THE  SOUTH. 


153 


The  reported  losses  were  as  follows :  of  the  Ameri 
cans  there  were  22  killed  and  66  wounded;  of  the 
French,  50  killed  and  136  wounded.  The  British  loss 
was  156  killed,  326  wounded,  and  73  missing. 

Thus  was  Cornwallis  driven  to  a  surrender  as  humili 
ating  as  that  at  Saratoga.  And  it  is  remarkable  that 
this  surrender  corresponds,  almost  to  a  day,  with  the 
surrender  of  Burgoyne  at  Saratoga,  four  years  earlier. 
This  surrender  destroyed  the  last  hope  of  England's  ever 
Deing  able  to  subdue  America.  Exultation  and  grati 
tude  broke  forth  from  every  heart  when  the  news 
spread  abroad.  The  cause  of  Independence  was  now 
regarded  as  won.  The  battles  of  the  American  Revo 
lution  had  now  all  been  fought.  The  American  Colonies 
were  irrevocably  gone.  A  preliminary  treaty  of  peace 
was  signed  at  Paris  in  1782,  and  in  November,  1783, 
Britain  reserved  to  herself  on  the  American  Continent 
only  Canada  and  Newfoundland,  and  acknowledged 
without  reserve  the  INDEPENDENCE  OF  THE  UNITED 
STATES. 


CHAPTER   IX. 
THE  REVOLUTIONARY  BATTL?:S  ON  THE  SEA. 

MACHIAS  (June  n,  1775). — The  first  naval  action  of 
the  Revolutionary  War,  like  the  first  land  battle, 
originated  and  was  carried  out  by  tlie  people,  without 
any  order  from  any  Committee  of  Safety,  Provincial 
Congress,  or  other  body  or  officer  of  their  creation. 

To  the  harbor  of  Machias,  a  King's  cutter,  Margaretta, 
convoyed  two  sloops,  to  be  freighted  with  lumber  for 
the  army  at  Boston.  On  Sunday,  June  1 1,  1775,  the 
Patriots  of  the  town,  aided  by  volunteers  from  Mispecka 
and  Pleasant  River,  seized  the  captain  of  the  sloops  "  in 
the  meeting-house,"  and  afterwards  got  possession  of  his 
vessels.  The  Margaretta  did  not  fire  on  the  town,  but 
in  the  dusk  of  the  evening  fell  down  the  harbor,  and 
next  morning  proceeded  on  her  voyage.  She  was 
pursued  by  Captain  Jeremiah  O'Brien  and  40  men  in 
one  of  the  captured  sloops,  and  by  20  others  from 
Machias  in  a  schooner;  and  being  a  dull  sailor,  she 
was  soon  overtaken.  An  obstinate  sea-fight  took  place ; 
the  captain  of  the  cutter  was  mortally  wounded  and 
six  of  his  men  were  hurt,  when  after  an  hour's  resistance, 
the  British  flag  was  struck,  for  the  first  time  on  the 
ocean,  to  Americans. 

The  exact  loss,  on  either  side,  has  not  been  recorded, 
but  it  is  not  likely  to  have  exceeded  20  all  told. 

Fenimore  Cooper  appropriately  said  of  this  affair: 
(iS4) 


RE  VOL  UTIONAR  Y  BA  TTL  ES  ON  THE  SEA.      i  $  5 

"  It  was  the  Lexington  of  the  sea ;  for,  like  that 
celebrated  land  conflict,  it  was  a  rising  of  the  people 
against  a  regular  force,  was  characterized  by  a  long 
chase,  a  bloody  struggle,  and  a  triumph."  It  was  also 
the  first  blow  struck  on  the  water  after  the  War  of  the 
American  Revolution  had  actually  commenced. 

Had  the  result  been  different,  Jeremiah  O'Brien  would 
have  been  classed  as  a  pirate  and  a  traitor,  and  his 
name  handed  down  to  everlasting  ridicule  and  con 
tempt.  Treason,  when  successful,  is  never  treason. 

Loss  OF  THE  RALEIGH  (September  27,  1778). — At 
seveii  in  the  morning  of  Friday,  September  25,  1778, 
the  United  States  frigate  Raleigh,  of  thirty-two  guns, 
commanded  by  Captain  John  Barry,  sailed  from  Boston, 
having  a  brig  and  a  sloop  under  convoy. 

About  eleven  o'clock  two  strange  ships  were  seen 
about  fifteen  miles  distant,  which  gave  her  chase. 
The  Raleigh  immediately  hauled  her  wind  to  the 
northward,  and  night  coming  on,  the  chase  was  lost 
sight  of.  Early  next  morning  the  ships  were  again  in 
sight,  and  continued  the  chase  all  day.  On  Sunday 
morning,  the  27th,  the  chase  was  discovered  to  wind 
ward,  coming  down  on  the  Raleigli  with  all  sail  set, 
when  the  latter  immediately  hauled  her  wind,  steer 
ing  about  north  by  west,  which  was  also  done  by  the 
enemy. 

In  the  afternoon  the  enemy's  leading  ship  over 
hauled  the  Raleigh;  and  at  five  o'clock  the  engage 
ment  commenced.  At  the  second  fire,  the  Raleigh  lost 
her  foretop-mast  and  mizzentopgallant-mast,  which  gave 
her  opponent  a  great  advantage  in  manoeuvering,  yet 
the  battle  raged  furiously  until  night-fall,  and  the 
Raleigh  "  had  the  advantage."  At  this  time  the  enemy's 
sternmost  ship  came  up  and  engaged  her;  and  for  half 
an  hour  longer  the  unequal  conflict  continued,  when 


THE  BATTLES   OF  AMERICA. 

Captain  Barry  wore  ship,  and  made  for  the  shore,  with 
the  intention  of  running  aground. 

Unfortunately,  the  enemy  followed,  and  a  running 
fight  continued  until  two  o'clock  in  the  morning  of  the 
28th,  when  the  chase  was  shaken  off,  and  the  Raleigh 
succeeded  in  reaching  the  land. 

It  is  said  she  ran  aground  on  Fox's  Island  in  Penob- 
scot  Bay;  that  the  ship  and  22  men  were  taken  by  the 
enemy  ;  and  that  the  remainder  of  the  crew  was  saved. 
Her  captors  were  the  Experiment,  Captain  Wallace,  of 
fifty  guns,  and  the  Unicorn,  of  twenty-two  guns,  the 
latter  of  which  had  ten  men  killed,  and  was  greatly 
damaged,  both  in  her  hull  and  rigging.  Our  loss  was 
25  men  killed  and  wounded. 

THE  HAWK  AND  THE  PIGOT  (October  25,  1778). — By 
the  operations  on  Rhode  Island,  the  destruction  of  the 
enemy's  vessels,  the  command  of  the  ferries,  and  other 
lines  of  communication  between  the  island  and  the  main, 
were  secured  to  the  inhabitants,  much  to  the  annoyance 
of  the  royal  authorities.  To  close  one  of  these  points — 
the  east  passage — a  fine  stout  schooner,  of  about  two 
hundred  tons,  was  procured;  her  upper  deck  removed; 
lower  deck  pierced  for  twelve  eight-pounders,  which  had 
been  removed  from  the  Flora ;  strong  boarding-netting 
carried  around  her  bulwarks;  and  457  men,  under 
Lieutenant  Dunlap,  of  the  British  Navy,  placed  on 
board.  She  was  named  the  Pigot,  in  honor  of  the  royal 
commander  on  Rhode  Island,  and,  anchored  near  How- 
land's  Ferry,  at  the  mouth  of  the  Seaconet,  "  she  com 
pletely  barred  its  entrance,  and,  for  a  long  period,  kept 
a  sullen  and  undisturbed  watch,  greatly  to  the  detriment 
of  the  island  and  the  Patriot  Army." 

Against  this  vessel,  on  October  25,  Major  Talbot,  with 
45  men,  and  two  three-pounders,  left  Providence  on  a 
small  coasting-sloop  called  the  Hawk.  Soon  after  he 


RE  VOL  UTIONAR  Y  BA  TTLES  ON  THE  SEA. 


157 


left  the  town,  the  wind  died  away,  and  he  was  compelled 
to  anchor  and  remain  there  during  that  and  the  follow 
ing  days.  On  the  night  of  the  26th  the  wind  again 
favored  the  expedition,  and  it  proceeded  as  far  as  the 
Taunton  River,  receiving,  on  its  way,  the  fire  of  the 
enemy's  battery  at  the  Bristol  Ferry.  The  wind  being 
unfavorable  for  the  new  course  which  the  sloop  had  to 
take,  on  the  following  morning  Major  Talbot  went  on 
shore,  and,  on  horseback,  proceeded  to  reconnoitre  the 
enemy.  He  rode  down  until  he  came  opposite  the 
Pigot,  when  her  position,  equipments,  &c.,  were  care 
fully  examined  and  noted,  after  which  he  returned  to  his 
vessel,  and  prepared  for  action.  Fearing  that  his  force 
was  insufficient  to  accomplish  his  object,  he  applied  to 
General  Cornell  for  a  reinforcement ;  and,  about  nine  in 
the  evening,  after  receiving  an  addition  to  his  small 
party  of  15  men  and  Lieutenant  Helms,  from  the  Rhode 
Island  line,  he  weighed  anchor,  and  sailed  down  the 
passage.  When  he  approached  the  Fogland  Fort  he 
lowered  his  sails  and  drifted  down  under  bare  poles,  se 
curing  his  passage  through  that  part  of  the  channel 
without  being  discovered. 

Having  lashed  a  kedge-anchor  on  his  jib-boom,  and 
hoisted  his  sail  again,  he  speedily  neared  the  Pigot,  was 
hailed,  and  made  no  answer.  The  sentries'  muskets 
were  then  discharged  at  the  Hawk,  but,  such  was  her 
headway,  at  half-past  one  on  the  morning  of  the  28th, 
before  a  cannon  could  be  discharged  by  the  schooner, 
she  was  alongside  the  Pigot\  the  anchor  on  her  jib- 
boom  had  torn  the  netting  from  the  bulwarks  of  the 
schooner,  and  had  grappled  her  fore-shrouds;  and 
Helms  and  his  party  of  15  men  had  gained  her  deck, 
sword  in  hand.  A  brisk  fire  was  immediately  opened 
on  the  Pigot,  and  her  crew,  terrified  at  the  audacity  of 
her  assailants,  begged  for  quarter  and  ran  below,  leav 
ing  the  deck  unoccupied.  The  crew  of  the  Hawk  im- 


I  $  8  THE   BATTLES   OF  AMERICA. 

mediately  passed  over  the  bowsprit  of  the  sloop  and 
boarded  the  schooner;  while  Lieutenant  Dunlap,  her 
commander,  in  his  shirt  and  drawers,  rushed  from  his 
berth,  and  gallantly  defended  his  vessel  single-handed; 
but  his  bravery  availed  nothing,  and,  in  a  few  minutes, 
his  crew  was  safely  secured  in  the  hold  of  the  vessel, 
her  anchor  was  weighed,  and,  with  the  Haivk,  she  was 
on  her  way  down  the  Narragansett  Bay,  neither  party 
having  lost  a  man. 

On  the  following  day  the  vessels  reached  Stoning- 
ton  in  safety ;  whence  the  prisoners  were  marched,  in 
triumph  to  Providence.  "  Congratulations,  acknowl 
edgements,  and  honors  were  preferred  the  bold  leader 
in  this  enterprise  from  all  quarters.  The  Assembly  of 
Rhode  Island  presented  him  with  a  sword  ;  "  the  "  Con 
gress  of  the  United  States  presented  its  thanks,  and 
a  lieutenant-colonel's  commission;"  but,  perhaps  of  all 
the  compliments  bestowed  on  the  occasion,  the  one  he 
received  with  the  greatest  relish  was  the  character 
awarded  him  in  the  British  report  of  the  loss  of  the 
Pigot — "One  of  the  greatest  arch-rebels  in  nature." 

JOHN  PAUL  JONES  was  born  in  Scotland  on  July  6, 
1747,  and  was  the  son  of  a  market-gardener  named 
Paul.  Being  accustomed  to  the  sight  of  shipping  from 
his  childhood,  he  acquired  in  this  way  a  passion  for  the 
sea.  While  yet  a  boy,  he  became  a  sailor  in  the  mer 
chant  service,  and  went  to  America.  An  elder  brother 
was  married  and  settled  in  Virginia,  where  he  became  a 
planter.  For  a  while  he  was  in  the  slave  trade ;  but 
his  large  humanity  revolted  at  the  business,  and,  devot 
ing  himself  to  trade  with  the  West  Indies,  he  became 
rich.  At  the  opening  of  the  Revolutionary  War,  he 
took  his  stand  with  the  Patriots  ;  and,  on  its  being  de 
termined  by  Congress  to  fit  up  a  naval  force,  Jones,  then 
a  vigorous  young  man  of  28,  was  appointed  first  lieuten- 


COMMODORE  JOHN   PAUL  JONES, 


159 


THE  BATTLES   OF  AMERICA. 

ant  of  the  Alfred,  on  board  which  ship  he  hoisted  with 
his  own  hands,  for  the  first  time  it  had  ever  been  dis 
played  in  a  national  ship,  the  flag  of  independent  America. 
It  bore  the  device  of  a  pine  tree  with  a  rattlesnake  coiled 
at  its  root. 

Soon  displaying  the  high  qualities  of  seamanship  and 
daring,  he  was  put  in  command  of  the  sloop  Providence^ 
Carrying  12  guns  and  70  men.  During  his  first  cruise 
of  six  weeks,  he  made  1 6  prizes.  Appointed  a  captain 
in  1776,  he  was  given  command  of  the  Alfred,  and  the 
year  following  of  the  Ranger,  when  he  sailed  to  the 
British  waters  to  revenge  on  the  shores  of  his  native 
land  the  injuries  which  British  ships  had  inflicted  on 
the  coasts  of  his  adopted  country. 

After  staying  for  a  while  in  the  Solway  Firth,  close  to 
the  spot  where  he  was  born,  he  rowed  with  31  volun 
teers,  in  two  boats,  to  the  coast  of  Cumberland,  and  in 
the  harbor  of  Whitehaven,  set  fire  to  three  vessels,  and 
spiked  a  large  number  of  cannon  in  the  guard  room  of 
the  fort.  In  the  course  of  four  weeks — at  the  end  of 
which  time  he  sailed  for  Brest — this  daring  seaman  had 
destroyed  26  valuable  ships,  thrown  the  coasts  of  Scot 
land  and  Ireland  into  a  fever  of  alarm,  occasioned  the 
Irish  volunteers  to  be  embodied,  and  compelled  the 
English  Government  to  expend  a  considerable  sum  of 
money  in  fortifying  the  harbors. 

CAPTURE  OF  THE  SERAPIS  AND  SCARBOROUGH  (Sep 
tember  23,  1779). — During  the  summer  of  1779,  through 
the  exertions  of  Benjamin  Franklin,  a  squadron  was 
fitted  out  in  France,  and  the  command  given  to  Captain 
John  Paul  Jones.  It  consisted  of  the  Bon  Homme 
Richard — an  old  East  Indiaman  (which  had  been  con 
demned  and  laid  upas  a  hulk),  mounting  6  old  eighteen- 
pounders  in  the  gun-room,  28  old  twelve-pounders  on 
her  main-deck,  and  8  six-pounders  on  her  quarter 
deck  and  forecastle;  the  Alliance — a  fine  Continental 


RE  VOL  UTIONA  RY  BA  TTL ES  ON  THE  SEA.      l  5  l 

frigate  mounting  36  guns ;  the  Pallas — a  merchant  ship 
carrying  32  guns  ;  ihtVengeance — a  merchant  brig  carry 
ing  12  guns;  and  the  Cerf — a  fine  large  cutter  mount 
ing  1 8  guns.  The  cost  attending  this  squadron  appears 
to  have  been  borne  in  part  by  the  French  King,  in  part 
by  the  American  Commissioners,  and  the  remainder  by 
a  banker  in  Paris. 

After  cruising  on  the  coast  of  Great  Britain,  and 
spreading  terror  among  her  people  for  several  weeks, 
on  September  23,  17/9,  while  in  company  with  the 
Alliance  and  the  Pallas,  Commodore  Jones  was  cruising 
off  Flamborough  Head,  on  the  coast  of  Yorkshire, 
England,  and  discovered  a  fleet  of  more  than  forty  sail. 
From  intelligence  which  the  commodore  possessed,  he 
was  convinced  that  this  was  the  Baltic  fleet,  which  was 
returning  home  under  convoy  of  the  Serapis,  44,  and 
the  Countess  of  Scarborough,  22  guns ;  and  he  prepared 
for  attack.  Perceiving  from  his  movements,  that  the 
little  squadron  was  an  enemy,  the  commandant  of  the 
Serapis  signalled  to  his  consort  to  follow  him,  and 
hauled  out  to  sea,  until  he  had  got  to  windward  of  his 
convoy,  when  he  tacked  and  stood  inshore  again,  to 
cover  it,  and  enable  it  to  find  shelter  near  Scarborough. 

Jones  signalled  his  consorts  to  form  a  line,  with  the 
Pallas  in  the  van,  and  the  Alliance  astern  of  the  Richard, 
and  to  chase  the  enemy ;  but  the  insubordination  of  the 
captain  of  the  Alliance  frustrated  all  the  plans,  and  he 
not  only  deprived  the  commodore  of  the  assistance  of 
that  vessel,  but  endeavored  to  withdraw  that  of  the 
Pallas  also.  Jones,  notwithstanding  this  diminution  of 
his  force,  stood  steadily  on,  and,  about  seven  o'clock, 
he  came  up  with  the  Serapis,  the  Countess  of  Scar 
borough  being  a  short  distance  to  leeward. 

The  Serapis  was  a  new,  double-decked  "  forty-four," 
and  was  considered  a  fast  sailer.  She  mounted  twenty 
eighteen-pounders  on  her  lower  gun-deck,  twenty  nine- 


THE   BATTLES   OF  AMERICA. 

pounders  on  her  upper  gun-deck,  and  ten  six-pounders 
on  her  quarter-deck  and  forecastle ;  and  her  crew  was  a 
fine  one  of  320  men,  commanded  by  Captain  Richard 
Pearson. 

The  weather  was  clear,  the  surface  of  the  sea  unruffled, 
and,  just  as  the  Richard  came  within  gun-shot  of  her 
opponent,  the  moon  rose  with  unusual  splendor,  to  re 
veal  the  terrible  struggle  which  was  about  to  open  to 
the  anxious  spectators  who  had  crowded  on  the  edges 
of  the  cliffs,  which,  at  that  place,  formed  the  coast  of 
England.  "  What  ship  is  that?  "  was  asked  by  the  cap 
tain  of  the  Serapis  as  the  Richard  came  up ;  and, 
"  Come  a  little  nearer  and  I  will  tell  you,"  was  the 
equivocal  reply.  "  What  are  you  laden  with  ?  "  was 
the  next  inquiry;  and  the  answer,  "  Round,  grape,  and 
double-head  shot,"  hurled  back  a  defiance  on  the  self- 
conceited  interrogator.  A  broadside  from  the  Senipis 
immediately  thundered  in  response,  and  the  action 
began.  The  sea  being  smooth,  Jones  relied  greatly  on 
the  six  eighteen-pounders  which  had  been  mounted 
in  the  gun-room,  but,  at  the  first  discharge,  two  of  them 
burst,  blowing  up  the  deck  above,  and  killing  and 
wounding  nearly  all  the  men  who  were  stationed  at 
them.  The  four  which  remained  were  immediately 
abandoned,  and  the  men  who  were  stationed  at  them 
were  posted  elsewhere.  The  abandonment  of  these 
guns  rendered  the  contest  still  more  uneven,  especially 
when,  ten  minutes  later,  the  enemy  ran  out  his  eighteen- 
pounders  on  the  lower  deck,  and  opened  that  terrible 
fire  which  reduced  the  Ricliard  to  a  perfect  wreck  before 
the  close  of  the  action.  The  Richard,  having  backed 
her  topsails,  exchanged  several  broadsides  with  her 
opponent,  when  she  filled  again,  and  shot  ahead  of  her; 
upon  which  the  latter  luffed  across  the  Richard's  stern, 
pouring  in  a  raking  broadside,  as  she  passed,  and  came 
up  on  the  weather  quarter  of  the  latter,  taking  the  wind 


REVOLUTIONARY  BATTLES   ON   THE   SEA.     X6^ 

out  of  her  sails,  and  in  her  turn  passing  ahead.  While 
the  Serapis  was  thus  ahead  of  the  Richard,  she  failed  in 
an  attempt  to  go  down  athwart  the  fore-foot  of  the 
latter,  to  rake  her,  and  was  obliged  to  put  her  helm 
hard  down  to  keep  clear  of  her.  In  this  manner  she 
lost  some  of  her  way,  while  the  Richard,  keeping  on  her 
course,  and  taking  advantage  of  a  fresh  breeze  which  at 
that  moment  filled  her  sails,  soon  ran  aboard  of  her, 
bows  on,  the  jib-boom  of  the  former  passing  between 
the  starboard  mizzen-shrouds  and  the  mizzen-vang  of 
the  Serapis.  The  commodore  immediately  ordered  the 
grappling-irons  to  be  thrown  out,  and  the  boarders  to 
stand  by,  but  the  chains  attached  to  the  irons  were  cut 
away  by  the  enemy,  and  the  vessels  separated.  As 
soon  as  she  had  obtained  room  to  do  so,  the  Serapis 
put  her  helm  hard  down,  laid  all  aback  forward,  shiv 
ered  her  after-sails,  and  wore  short  round,  with  the  in 
tention,  it  is  supposed,  of  luffing  up  athwart  the  Rich 
ard's  bow,  in  order  to  rake  her  again.  Perceiving  the 
object  of  the  enemy,  and  knowing  his  own  weakness, 
Jones  ordered  the  sailing-master  of  the  Richard  to  lay 
the  enemy  onboard  again,  when  the  helm  was  put  hard- 
a-weather,  and  the  Serapis  laid  athwart-hawse,  the  jib- 
boom  of  the  latter  passing  through  the  mizzen-shrouds 
of  the  former.  The  Richard's  grappling-irons  were  again 
thrown  out ;  while  the  jib-stay  of  the  Serapis — which 
had  been  cut  away — was  employed  to  make  the  latter 
fast  to  the  mizzen-mast  of  the  former.  The  pressure  of 
the  breeze  on  the  after-sails  of  the  Serapis,  and  the  strain 
produced  by  the  crew  of  the  Ricliard  by  means  of  the 
trail  ings  attached  to  their  grappling-irons,  soon  caused 
the  jib-boom  of  the  former  to  give  way,  when  the  two 
ships  dropped  alongside  of  each  other,  head  and  stern, 
and  the  fluke  of  the  spare  anchor  of  the  Serapis  hooking 
on  the  quarter  of  the  Richard,  they  were  firmly  secured, 
so  near  to  each  other  that  the  muzzles  of  their  guns 

Independence — 1 1 


THE  BATTLES   OF  AMERICA, 

touched  each  other's  sides.  During  all  this  time  the 
cannonade  continued  with  great  fury,  and  both  vessels 
suffered  severely.  A  strong  force  having  been  placed  in 
the  Richard's  tops, and  a  constant  fire  maintained  there 
from,  the  men  in  the  tops  of  the  Serapis,  as  well  as  those 
on  her  quarter-deck  and  forecastle,  suffered  very  severely. 

Soon  after  the  vessels  had  been  lashed  together,  it 
was  seen  that  the  current  was  carrying  them  in  shore, 
and  the  Serapis  dropped  her  anchor,  with  the  hope  that 
the  Richard  would  drift  clear  of  her.  But  this  hope  was 
not  realized,  and  as  the  vessels  slowly  turned  to  the  tide, 
the  enemy  attempted  to  board  the  Richard,  but  were 
repulsed.  Each  party  speedily  followed  in  similar  at 
tempts  to  board,  but  neither  succeeded  although  many 
lives  were  lost  in  the  several  attempts. 

At  this  time  the  vessels,  firmly  secured  to  each  other, 
laid  at  anchor  in  about  ten  fathoms  of  water.  They  had 
been  engaged  about  three-quarters  of  an  hour,  and, 
with  increased  fury,  the  conflict  continued.  The  tops 
of  the  Serapis  had  been  cleared,  and  the  crews  of  her 
quarter  and  main  decks  were  falling  rapidly  before  the 
fire  of  the  Richard's  topsnien,  and  before  the  hand- 
grenades  which  were  thrown  among  them.  The  greater 
part  of  her  guns,  from  the  position  of  the  Richard,  had 
been  rendered  useless,  four  only,  on  her  starboard  bow 
— two  eighteen-pounders  on  her  lower  gun-deck,  and 
two  nine-pounders  on  her  upper  gun-deck — being 
effective.  The  Richard,  also,  had  suffered  severely, 
both  in  her  hull  and  in  the  ranks  of  her  crew,  and  she, 
too,  had  but  two  or  three  of  her  small  guns  in  use  on 
her  upper  deck.  Her  crew  had  mostly  abandoned  the 
lower  decks  to  escape  the  fire  of  the  Serapis;  and 
through  the  port-holes,  with  lances,  pikes,  pistols,  and 
grenades,  they  attacked  the  enemy's  crew.  The  singu 
lar  spectacle  was  thus  presented  of  our  forces  com 
manding  the  upper  deck  and  the  tops  of  the  Serapis,  and 


REVOLUTIONARY  BATTLES   ON   THE   SEA.     ^5 

driving  the  men  therefrom  ;  while,  at  the  same  moment, 
the  enemy  was  tearing  the  Richard's  lower  deck  to 
pieces,  and  forcing  her  crew  to  seek  shelter  in  her  fore 
castle  and  on  her  upper  decks. 

In  this  singular  condition  the  battle  raged  furiously, 
until  some  of  the  light  sails  on  the  Serapis  took  fire, 
which  spread  to  the  rigging,  and  thence  to  the  Richards 
tops,  when  the  firing  ceased,  and  the  crews  of  both  ships 
joined  in  combating  their  new  enemy.  After  some 
time  spent  in  this  manner  the  fire  was  extinguished,  and, 
immediately  afterwards,  the  battle  was  renewed.  A 
dozen  times  was  this  scene  repeated — alternately  com 
bating  each  other,  and  the  flames,  which  threatened  de 
struction  to  both. 

Thus  hour  after  hour  this  unparalleled  conflict  con 
tinued,  one  having  resolved  to  conquer,  the  other  not 
to  be  conquered.  At  length,  at  half-past  nine  o'clock, 
one  of  those  sudden  dispensations  of  Providence,  which 
no  one  can  foresee,  scattered  the  crew  of  the  Serapis  from 
her  main-deck,  and  gave  us  the  victory.  Some  time 
previous,  one  of  the  Richard's  topsmen  had  passed 
over  to  the  main-top  of  the  Serapis  with  a  match  and  a 
bucket  filled  with  grenades,  where  he  employed  himself 
in  dropping  these  combustibles  among  the  crew  beneath 
him.  At  the  same  time  the  powder-boys,  on 'the  main- 
deck  of  the  Serapis,  had  brought  the  cartridges  up  from 
the  magazine  faster  than  they  had  been  used,  and  a  row 
of  them  had  been  laid  on  the  deck,  parallel  with  the 
guns.  One  of  the  grenades  struck  the  combings  of  the 
upper  hatch  way  ,  and,  glancing  off,  fell  among  the  car 
tridges.  By  its  explosion  the  cartridges  were  ignited, 
and  the  flash,  passing  from  one  to  another,  from  abreast 
the  mainmast  to  the  extreme  after  part  of  the  ship,  the 
whole  were  discharged  among  the  crew  with  terrible 
effect.  More  than  2<?  men  were  instantly  killed,  and 
38  wounded. 


THE   BATTLES   OF  AMERICA, 

This  disaster,  while  it  served  to  discourage  the  enemy\ 
increased  the  hopes  and  rendered  more  active  the  ex 
ertions  of  the  Richard's  crew.  At  this  moment  the 
Alliance,  which  had  been  hovering  around  the  com 
batants,  came  within  gunshot,  to  the  windward  of  the 
ships,  and  opened  an  indiscriminate  fire  on  friend  and 
foe  alike.  Keeping  away  a  little,  she  soon  reached  the 
larboard  quarter  of  the  Richard,  and  it  is  asserted  by 
some  that  her  fire  was  continued  until  she  got  nearly 
abeam  of  that  vessel.  For  some  time  this  singular  con 
duct  was  continued,  and  it  was  not  until  the  signals  of 
recognition  was  hoisted  that  the  firing  discontinued. 
Soon  afterwards  the  crew  of  the  Richard  was  alarmed 
with  the  report  that  the  ship  was  sinking,  and  several 
hundred  British  prisoners,  who  had  been  confined  be 
low,  were  set  at  liberty  by  the  master-at-arms.  The 
confusion  which  was  thus  produced  was  heightened  by 
a  report  that  all  the  officers  had  been  killed  ;  and  the 
gunner,  supposing  himself  to  be  the  senior  officer, 
hurried  on  deck  and  called  for  "  quarter."  Captain 
Pearson,  of  the  Serapis,  hearing  the  joyful  sound,  hailed 
the  Richard,  and  inquired  if  she  had  surrendered,  when 
the  commodore  undeceived  him,  and  throwing  his 
pistol  at  the  gunner,  severely  wounded  him. 

The  prisoners  who  had  been  liberated  were  set  to 
work  at  the  pumps  ;  and  the  crew  of  the  Richard  ap 
peared  to  feel,  more  than  ever,  determined  to  conquer. 
A  few  more  guns  were  brought  to  bear — one  of  them, 
loaded  with  double-headed  shot,  directed  by  the  com 
modore  in  person,  was  especially  directed  against  the 
mainmast  of  the  Scrapis — and  increased  exertions  were 
put  forth  on  every  side.  At  length,  at  about  half-past 
ten  o'clock,  Captain  Pearson  of  the  Serapis  struck  her 
colors  with  his  own  hand,  none  of  his  crew  daring  to 
expose  themselves  for  that  purpose. 

As  soon  as  it  was  known  that  the  Serapis  had  surren- 


REVOLUTIONARY  BATTLES  ON  THE  SEA. 


I67 


dered,  Lieutenant  Richard  Dale  passed  on  board  and 
took  possession  of  the  prize;  while  Captain  Pearson  and 
his  officers  passed  over  to  the  Ricliard,  and  surrendered 
their  swords  to  the  commodore.  In  doing  so  Captain 
Pearson  remarked,  "  It  is  with  great  reluctance  I  am 
obliged  to  resign  my  sword  to  a  man  who  may  be  said 
to  fight  with  a  halter  about  his  neck."  Some  have  sup 
posed  this  was  intended  as  an  insult  to  the  commodore, 
but,  if  it  was  so,  it  signally  failed,  the  latter  simply  reply 
ing,  "  Sir,  you  have  fought  like  a  hero,  and  I  make  no 
doubt  your  Sovereign  will  reward  you  for  it  in  the  most 
ample  manner." 

While  this  conflict  was  raging,  the  Pallas  attacked 
the  Countess  of  Scarborough,  and,  after  a  severe  action 
of  two  hours,  captured  her. 

As  soon  as  Lieutenant  Dale  had  received  a  prize-crew 
on  the  Serapis,  the  lashings  were  cut,  and  the  Richard 
slowly  drifted  away,  the  prize  following  her  as  soon  as 
her  cable  could  be  cut. 

Thus  terminated  one  of  the  most  desperate  struggles 
which  the  world  ever  witnessed;  but  a  new  danger  now 
presented  itself.  The  Richard  was  both  sinking  and  on 
fire ;  and  it  was  owing  to  the  assistance  of  men  sent 
from  the  other  vessels  of  the  squadron,  that  she  was 
preserved  long  enough  to  secure  the  removal  of  the 
wounded  and  her  crew.  An  examination  showed  that 
abaft,  on  a  line  with  the  guns  of  the  Serapis  which  had 
been  employed  after  the  vessels  had  been  lashed  together, 
her  timbers  and  siding  had  been  entirely  demolished,  a 
few  futtocks,  which  remained,  being  the  only  support 
of  her  poop  and  upper  deck.  Her  rudder  had  been  cut 
from  her  stern  post;  her  transoms  had  been  nearly  driven 
out  of  her;  the  flames,  which  had  got  within  her  ceiling, 
had  extended  so  far  as  to  menace  the  magazine;  and  the 
pumps,  by  constant  use,  could  barely  keep  the  water  at 
the  same  level.  After  securing  those  who  were  on 


j68  THE  BATTLES  OF  AMERICA. 

board,  about  nine  o'clock  on  the  morning  of  September 
25,  the  officer  who  had  charge  of  her,  with  his  crew, 
took  to  their  boats;  and,  at  ten  o'clock,  the  Bon  Homme 
Richard  settled  slowly  into  the  sea,  bows  foremost,  and 
disappeared. 

The  Serapis  had  suffered  much  less  than  the  Richard, 
probably  in  consequence  of  the  guns  of  the  latter  having 
been  lighter  and  sooner  silenced;  yet  she  lost  her  main 
and  mizzen  masts  and  her  fore  top-mast,  immediately 
after  the  ships  had  been  separated,  and  was  taken  as  a 
prize  into  Holland  under  jury-masts. 

The  loss  of  life  was  also  unusually  severe,  although 
there  appears  to  be  great  uncertainty  respecting  its 
exact  extent.  It  has  been  said  by  a  well-informed 
writer  to  have  amounted,  on  the  Richard,  to  165  killed, 
and  137  wounded  and  missing ;  while  that  on  the  Serapis 
is  supposed  to  have  been  nearly,  if  not  quite,  equal  to 
that  on  her  opponent — the  same  well-informed  author 
stating  that  she  lost  137  killed,  and  76  wounded. 
'  By  this  exploit  Paul  Jones  was  enabled  to  effect  the 
release  of  the  American  prisoners  in  England,  who  were 
exchanged  for  the  officers  and  seamen  taken  with  the 
two  frigates.  The  naval  battles  of  this  able  and 
courageous  sailor  formed  the  commencement  of  a  series 
of  desperate  achievements  in  which  the  United  States 
gathered  great  renown. 


CHAPTER  X. 

THE  WAR  OF  1812-1815. 

IMMEDIATELY  upon  President  Jefferson's  inauguration 
he  set  to  work  reforming  and  retrenching.  He  reduced 
the  army  and  navy  to  the  most  slender  dimensions  ; 
jealousy  of  a  standing  army  being  a  powerful  sentiment 
with  the  early  Democrats. 

The  struggle  of  Napoleon  in  Europe  with  the  allied 
powers  brought  us  into  trouble.  England  had  forbidden 
all  trade  with  France,  and  France  had  in  return  forbidden 
all  trade  with  England  and  her  colonies.  By  these  de 
crees  all  of  our  vessels  sailing  on  the  ocean  were  liable 
to  capture.  These  decrees  violated  our  neutral  rights, 
and  were  calculated  to  destroy  our  commerce,  which  by 
this  time  had  become  quite  imposing. 

In  1807  Congress  passed  an  Embargo  Act,  believing 
there  was  no  other  way  to  obtain  redress  from  England 
and  France.  The  promised  results  of  this  measure 
were  not  realized,  and  the  law  was  repealed  in  1809.  It 
created  dissatisfaction,  particularly  in  New  England. 

England  impressed  American  seamen  on  the  plea 
that  they  were  British  subjects  by  birth,  and  could  not 
free  themselves  from  their  allegiance,  even  though  they 
made  themselves  citizens  of  another  State.  Measures 
of  retaliation  were  loudly  demanded.  Safety  was  be 
lieved  to  be  equally  concerned  in  resistance  to  these 
English  claims. 


THE  BATTLES  OF  AMERICA. 

Jefferson  had  cut  down  the  small  fleet  commenced  by 
Washington  and  Adams;  and  the  country  now  felt  the 
evil  effects  of  that  mistaken  economy.  The  few  gun 
boats  that  had  been  built  proved  wholly  inefficient,  and 
our  merchant  ships  had  nothing  to  shield  them  from 
the  naval  power  of  England  on  the  one  hand,  and 
France  on  the  other. 

Public  opinion  was  exasperated  to  a  pitch  of  fury 
when  the  British  ship  Leopard  attacked  the  Chesapeake, 
killing  some  of  the  crew.  The  Chesapeake,  being  un 
prepared  for  action,  struck  her  flag,  and  was  boarded  by 
the  British  captain,  who  took  off  four  of  her  seamen, 
whom  he  declared  were  British  subjects.  Rage  seized 
on  the  people  when  this  action  became  known.  Some 
demanded  an  immediate  declaration  of  war  against 
England.  Since  1803  the  British  cruisers  had  captured 
900  American  vessels,  and  the  injury  to  commerce  was 
so  great  that  the  nation  was  threatened  with  pecuniary 
ruin.  It  was  with  difficulty  that  the  Government  could 
even  moderate  the  indignation  of  the  people,  and  it  had 
become  clear  that  war  with  England  was  inevitable. 

On  June  19,  1812,  a  formal  declaration  of  war  was 
made  by  the  United  States  against  England.  The  peo 
ple  were  so  enthusiastically  in  favor  of  the  war  that  the 
proclamation  declaring  it  was  in  several  places  received 
with  illuminations  and  rejoicings,  and  the  cities  of  New 
York,  Philadelphia  and  Baltimore,  passed  resolutions 
approving  the  action  of  the  Government,  and  pledging 
themselves  to  support  it.  Jefferson's  economical  policy 
was  now  abandoned,  and  bills  were  passed  to  enlist 
men,  organize  militia,  and  to  equip  and  enlarge  the 
navy.  When  we  plunged  into  the  1812  war,  England 
had  more  than  1000  vessels,  manned  by  more  than 
144,000  sailors — the  best  in  the  world,  and  long  accus 
tomed  to  victory.  We  had  barely  20  vessels  of  war 
of  large  size,  carrying  not  more  than  300  guns.  A 


THE    WAR   OF  1812-1815.  \j\ 

number  of  gun-boats  had  recently  been  built,  but  they 
were  required  for  defending  the  coast,  and  could  not 
be  counted  on  for  service  at  any  great  distance. 

Our  army  was  an  undisciplined  body,  officered  by 
Revolutionary  soldiers,  too  old  to  be  efficient,  and  they 
were  to  meet  the  British  regulars,  the  finest  soldiers 
then  in  the  world,  animated  with  the  spirit  of  Waterloo 
and  the  Spanish  campaigns. 

Still,  upon  the  sea,  we  whipped  England  all  around. 
Out  of  seventeen  fights  which  occurred  during  the  two 
years  the  war  lasted,  we~w0n  thirteen.  "  Don't  give  up 
the  ship  "  was  the  battle-cry  of  the  American  sailor. 
On  the  land  we  did  not  fare  so  well. 

Every  one  felt  that  England  would  strike  her  hardest; 
the  terrible  sufferings  of  the  States  during  the  Revolu 
tionary  War  were  not  yet  worn  out  of  the  popular  re 
membrance  ;  and  it  was  but  too  likely  that  these  would 
be  repeated  if  the  country  were  not  prepared  to  encounter 
the  shock  of  a  powerful  foe,  strong  in  arms  and  in  the 
financial  means  which  give  to  arms  their  greatest  force  and 
widest  application.  New  York  and  New  Orleans  were  seen 
to  be  among  the  most  vulnerable  positions,  especially  the 
latter  city ;  and  preparations  were  made  for  fortifying  both. 

We  shall  here  first  recount  the  story  of  the  land  battles. 
The  selection  of  efficient  officers  was  not  a  very  easy 
matter.  The  greater  number  of  the  Revolutionary  com 
manders  had  departed,  and  as  there  had  been  no  war 
since  1783,  except  a  few  comparatively  trivial  encoun 
ters  with  the  Indians,  the  country  suffered  from  a  want 
of  officers  with  a  practical  knowledge  of  their  profes 
sion.  Nevertheless,  sufficient  old  soldiers  were  found 
for  the  chief  posts.  The  Commander-in-Chief  was 
Henry  Dearborn,  a  native  of  New  Hampshire,  who 
accompanied  Arnold  to  Quebec  in  1775,  and  who  had 
served  in  the  campaign  which  resulted  in  the  surrender 
of  Burgoyne.  Thomas  Pinckney  was  appointed  Major- 


if 2  THE  BATTLES  OF  AMERICA. 

General,  and  the  principal  brigadiers  were  James  Wil 
kinson,  Wacle  Hampton,  William  Hull  and  Joseph 
Bloomfield — all  of  whom,  like  Dearborn,  had  been  em 
ployed  during  the  War  of  Independence.  General  Hull 
was  Governor  of  Michigan  (which  had  been  organized  as 
a  Territory  in  1805),  and,  when  war  was  declared,  was 
marching  with  about  2000  troops  from  Ohio  for  the 
subjugation  of  the  hostile  Indians.  To  him  were  confided 
discretionary  powers  for  invading  Canada,  and  he  deter 
mined  on  attempting  it.  He  crossed  the  border  on  July 
12,  but  events  soon  showed  that  he  was  not  equal  to 
the  task.  Canada  was  at  that  time  divided  into  two 
provinces — Upper  and  Lower  Canada ;  and  the  popula 
tion  of  the  former,  amounting  to  about  100,000,  con 
sisted  principally  of  American  loyalists  who  had  left  the 
Union  at  the  close  of  the  late  war.  Each  of  these  prov 
inces  had  its  own  regular  military  force,  amounting  to 
about  2OOO  men,  scattered  over  a  wide  space ;  but  the 
country  did  not  present  a  good  object  of  attack,  because 
it  was  certain  that  the  loyalists  would  do  their  utmost 
to  resist  invasion  and  avenge  old  wrongs.  The  British 
commanders  at  once  called  for  volunteers,  and  made 
overtures  to  the  Indians  to  act  in  alliance  with  them. 
A  respectable  force  was  presently  in  the  field  against 
General  Hull,  whose  chance  of  success  lay  in  pushing 
forward  with  the  utmost  expedition  ;  instead  of  which 
he  came  to  a  full  pause,  and  awaited  the  action  of  his 
adversaries. 

While  he  was  lying  still,  the  British  forces  were 
increasing  in  number,  and  on  July  17  they  attacked 
Fort  Mackinaw,  a  strong  post  in  the  Northwest,  situated 
on  an  island  near  the  Straits  of  Mackinaw,  which  was 
surprised  and  captured  by  an  allied  force  of  British  and  In 
dians;  and  on  August  5  a  detachment  of  the  American 
forces,  sent  by  Hull  to  escort  an  approaching  supply- 
party  to  camp,  was  defeated  near  Brownstown,  on  the 


THE    WAR    OF  1812-1815. 


173 


Huron  River.  The  garrison  at  Maiden  had  now  been 
reinforced  by  General  Brock,  the  British  Commander 
in  Canada,  and  Hull  thought  it  prudent  to  abandon  the 
expedition.  He  re-crossed  the  river  on  August  7,  and 


GENERAL   THOMAS    PINCKNEY. 


retired  to  Detroit,  followed,  two  days  later,  by  Brock, 
who  appeared  before  the  town  at  the  head  of  700  English 
soldiers  and  600  Indians,  and  demanded  the  instant 
surrender  of  the  place.  Hull's  position  was  now  one 


THE  BATTLES    OF  AMERICA. 

of  extreme  difficulty.  His  forces  were  not  strong 
enough  to  defend  so  advanced  a  station,  and,  in  the 
event  of  defeat,  he  was  threatened  with  all  the  horrors  of 
Indian  vengeance.  He  is  perhaps  not  to  be  too  harshly 
blamed  for  giving  up  the  town;  but  he  was  censured 
for  commencing  the  expedition  with  insufficient  means, 
and  then  remaining  inactive  when  his  only  chance  of 
safety  lay  in  the  most  rapid  and  vigorous  movements. 

The  fort  of  Detroit  was  held  by  the  4th  Regiment,  by 
the  Ohio  Volunteers,  and  by  a  part  of  the  Michigan 
militia,  placed  behind  the  pickets  in  such  a  position  that 
the  whole  flank  of  the  British  force  was  exposed  to  their 
fire.  The  remainder  of  the  militia  were  stationed  in  the 
town,  and  two  four-pounders,  loaded  with  grape,  were 
planted  on  an  eminence,  from  which  they  could  have 
acted  with  great  effect  on  the  attacking  parties.  A 
detachment  of  400  soldiers,  who  were  returning  to 
Detroit,  had  by  this  time  got  sufficiently  close  to  be 
able  to  attack  the  enemy  in  the  rear;  but  Hull,  dreading- 

*  o 

the  Indian  ferocity,  resolved  to  make  terms  with  the 
enemy.  On  the  British  columns  arriving  within  500 
yards  of  our  lines,  he  ordered  the  troops  to  withdraw 
into  the  fort,  and  the  artillery  not  to  fire.  A  white  flag 
was  displayed,  negotiations  were  opened  with  the  British, 
and  a  capitulation  agreed  upon,  by  which,  on  August 
16,  1812,  the  army,  fort,  stores,  and  garrison,  together 
with  the  Territory  of  Michigan,  were  surrendered  to  the 
British,  much  to  their  surprise. 

Public  indignation  at  this  surrender  was  unbounded, 
and  certainly  not  surprising.  The  army  directed  by 
Hull  amounted  to  2500  men  (of  whom,  however,  only 
800  were  effectives),  while  Brock  had  under  his  orders 
about  330  regulars,  403  militia,  and  600  Indians.  Hull 
acted  entirely  on  his  own  volition ;  he  called  no  council  of 
his  officers  ;  and  came  to  his  determination  solely  out  of 
apprehension  of  the  Indians.  In  1814  he  was  brought 


THE    WAR    OF  1812-1815.- 


175 


to  trial  by  court-martial  on  a  charge  of  treason,  coward 
ice  and  neglect  of  duty.  On  the  two  latter  accusations 
he  was  found  guilty  and  sentenced  to  be  shot ;  but  in 
consideration  of  his  services  during  the  Revolutionary 
war  his  life  was  spared. 

Another  lamentable  event  occurring  near  the  head  of 
Lake  Michigan  contributed  another  element  of  a  dis 
heartening  nature  to  the  circumstances  of  this  period. 
Hull  had  sent  orders  to  Captain  Heald  to  evacuate  Fort 
Dearborn,  on  the  site  of  the  present  city  of  Chicago — 
a  position  which  he  occupied  with  fifty  regulars.  At  the 
command  of  his  superior  officer  he  quitted  that  post 
and  proceeded  to  Detroit,  leaving  the  public  property  in 
charge  of  some  friendly  Indians.  While  moving  along 
the  shores  of  Lake  Michigan,  he  was  attacked  by  a 
hostile  tribe  of  savages,  and  26  of  the  regulars,  and  all 
the  militia  were  killed,  and  a  number  of  women  and 
children  were  murdered  and  scalped.  Those  opposing 
the  war  prophesied  all  manner  of  evil,  and  for  awhile 
exercised  some  influence  over  those  who  were  inclined 
to  hesitate.  But  the  nation  generally  were  inclined  to 
carry  on  the  war  with  spirit.  The  British  army  con 
sisted  of  well-disciplined  regulars,  while  we  were 
obliged  to  create  regiments  on  the  spur  of  the  moment, 
with  all  the  necessary  imperfection  of  raw  levies. 

In  1808  the  regular  troops  did  not  number  more  than 
3000.  They  now  were  fewer  than  6000;  the  bulk  of 
these  had  been  raised  since  the  beginning  of  the  year. 

The  ill  success  of  the  first  attempt  only  stimulated 
the  people  to  fresh  endeavors.  Immediately  after  the 
capitulation  of  Detroit,  10,000  volunteers  offered  their 
services,  and  were  marched  toward  the  territory  of 
Michigan  under  the  direction  of  General  Harrison,  who 
had  command  of  the  Army  of  the  Northwest,  including 
the  detachments  that  had  been  Hull's.  Their  strength 
was  not  sufficient,  considering  the  imperfection  of  their 


THE   BATTLES    OF  AMERICA. 

discipline,  to  effect  more  than  a  few  incursions  into  the 
Indian  lands  ;  and  the  early  winter  of  those  northern 
regions  surprised  them  before  they  had  obtained  any 
success. 

Another  expedition  into  Canada  was  undertaken  by 
General  Van  Rensselaer,  of  the  New  York  Militia,  who 
commanded  the  Army  of  the  Centre.  His  force  con 
sisted  of  regulars  and  militia,  when  he  drew  up  at 
Lewistown,  on  the  Niagara,  opposite  a  fortified  British 
post  on  the  heights  of  Queenstown.  Colonel  Van  Rens 
selaer,  a  relative  of  the  General,  a  man  of  courage  and 
determination,  crossed  the  stream  on  October  13,  with  a 
small  detachment,  who  effected  their  landing  under  a 
heavy  fire  from  the  British.  The  colonel  was  wounded 
at  the  outset  of  the  operations ;  but  Captains  Ogilvie 
and  Wool  led  on  their  troops  to  the  assault.  The  for 
tress  was  captured  and  the  Americans  now  established 
themselves  in  so  strong  a  position  that  when  General 
Brock  brought  up  a  reinforcement  of  600  men,  they 
were  repulsed  with  heavy  loss,  and  among  the  killed  was 
the  commander  himself.  Here,  however,  the  success  of 
the  attempt  came  to  an  end.  A  fresh  detachment 
was  conveyed  over  to  the  British  side  of  the  river ;  but 
the  troops  refused  to  obey  their  orders,  and  the  British, 
being  again  reinforced,  wrested  the  position  from  their 
adversaries,  after  a  severe  engagement,  in  which  the 
Americans  were  almost  destroyed,  and  the  remainder 
driven  across  the  stream.  .General  Van  Rensselaer,  dis 
gusted  with  the  inefficiency,  and  in  some  instances 
the  cowardice,  of  his  men,  left  the  service,  and  was  suc 
ceeded  by  General  Alexander  Smyth,  of  Virginia. 
That  officer,  on  November  28,  embarked  4500  men, 
with  a  view  to  crossing  the  Niagara.  The  appearance 
of  the  enemy  on  the  opposite  shore,  however,  was  so 
menacing  that  the  invasion  was  postponed  until  Decem 
ber  I,  when  it  was  finally  determined,  by  a  council  of 


THE  BATTLES   OF  AMERICA. 

war,  not  to  proceed  any  further  with  the  enterprise. 
Almost  equally  unsuccessful  was  General  Dearborn,  of 
the  Army  of  the  North,  who  felt  it  expedient  to  retire 
after  a  few  unimportant  operations.  Winter  had  now 
arrived — the  long  and  terrible  winter  of  Canada;  and 
the  period  for  active  service  had  passed. 

During  the  battle  of  October  13,  a  detachment  of 
our  troops,  amounting  to  1500,  refused  to  cross  the 
river,  in  aid  of  their  comrades  who  were  being  cut  to 
pieces  before  Queenstown  Heights,  on  the  plea  that  the 
war  was  properly  only  a  defensive  one,  and  that  there 
fore  it  was  not  right  to  invade  the  enemy's  dominions. 
Many  of  the  Federal  party  applauded  them  for  this 
determination,  and  in  the  Northeast  the  feeling  against 
the  war  gathered  force  with  every  day.  Adams  did  not 
share  in  this  view,  believing,  on  the  contrary,  that  the 
struggle  had  been  rendered  necessary  by  the  action  of 
the  British  Government ;  but  several  of  the  New 
Englanders  regarded  the  policy  of  Madison's  Adminis 
tration  as  unnecessary,  unjust,  and  likely  to  prove 
highly  injurious  to  the  best  interests  of  the  country. 
The  Governors  of  Massachusetts,  New  Hampshire,  and 
Connecticut  refused  to  allow  the  militia  of  those  States 
to  march  to  the  northern  frontier  on  the  requisition  of 
the  President,  alleging  that  such  a  requisition  was 
unconstitutional.  A  menacing  condition  of  opinion 
was  noticeable  over  the  whole  of  that  quarter.  The 
agitators  met  in  convention,  passed  resolutions  condem 
natory  of  the  Government,  denounced  the  war  with 
England,  and  proclaimed  their  preference  for  one  with 
France.  The  body  upholding  these  views  was  called 
the  Essex  Junto,  from  the  locality  where  its  members 
assembled.  The  difference  between  the  North  and 
South  was  due,  not  to  any  heresies  as  to  the  form  of 
government,  but  to  a  divergence  of  interests  on  ques 
tions  of  foreign  policy. 


THE    WAR    OF  1812-1815. 


179 


The  British  Government  had  by  this  time  declared 
the  whole  American  coast  in  a  state  of  blockade,  with 
the  exception  of  the  New  England  States — an  excep 
tion  dictated  by  the  hope  that  those  States  might  thus 
be  won  over  to  the  British  cause.  Such  an  expectation 


GENERAL   WILLIAM    HENRY    HARRISON. 

(Afterwards  President  of  the  United  States.') 


Independence — 12 


l8o  THE  BATTLES   OF  AMERICA. 

was  doomed  to  disappointment,  as  the  general  feeling 
of  the  country  held  in  check  whatever  tendency  to  a 
disloyal  course  may  have  existed  in  particular  circles. 
The  reverses  which  have  been  experienced  on  land  were 
very  much  more  than  counterbalanced  by  successes  at 
sea ;  as  will  presently  be  seen. 

So  eager  were  we  to  continue  the  war  that  the 
approach  of  winter  was  not  suffered  to  suspend  the 
operations  of  the  armies.  The  recovery  of  Michigan 
was  resolved  on  ;  companies  were  formed  and  equipped 
in  a  single  day,  and  ready  to  march  the  next.  Of  course 
such  hasty  levies  were  not  fitted  for  regular  warfare ; 
but  in  the  first  instance  were  employed  in  driving  back 
the  hostile  Indians  on  the  frontiers.  General  Harrison, 
in  command  of  the  Army  of  the  Northwest,  which  was 
concentrated  at  the  head  of  Lake  Erie,  took  steps  to 
relieve  the  frontier  posts  early  in  the  autumn,  and  Isaac 
Shelby,  a  native  of  Maryland,  but  then  Governor  of 
Kentucky,  led  a  strong  force  of  youthful  volunteers 
from  the  latter  State  towards  the  Canadian  boundary 
lines.  At  this  time,  the  Army  of  the  Centre,  which  had 
recently  been  placed  under  Dearborn,  was  stationed  on 
the  banks  of  the  Niagara,  while  that  of  the  North, 
where  Dearborn  had  been  succeeded  in  the  command 
by  General  Hampton,  was  planted  on  the  borders  of 
Lake  Champlain.  The  chief  officer  of  the  English 
army,  now  that  Brock  was  slain,  was  George  Prevost 

For  assistants,  he  had  Colonel  Procter  in  the  direc 
tion  of  Detroit,  and  General  Sheaffe  in  the  vicinity  of 
Montreal  and  the  lower  portions  of  Lake  Champlain. 

President  Madison's  determination  to  prosecute  the 
war  with  vigor  was  seconded  by  Congress.  The  bounty 
and  the  wages  of  the  soldiers  were  increased.  The 
President  was  authorized  to  raise  twenty  additional 
regiments  of  infantry,  and  to  borrow  money;  and  pro 
vision  was  made  for  building  four  ships  of  the  line,  six 


THE    WAR    OF  1812-1815.  l8l 

frigates,  and  as  many  vessels  of  war  on  the  great  lakes 
as   the   public   service   might  require.     Thus  fortified, 


PRESIDENT   JAMES    MADISON. 


Harrison  resolved  on  a  winter  campaign  for  the  rescue 
of  Michigan,  and  General  Winchester  was  ordered  to 


iSz  THE  BATTLES  OF  AMERICA. 

proceed  in  advance  to  Frenchtown,  a  village  on  the 
river  Raisin,  25  miles  south  of  Detroit  With  800 
young  volunteers,  chiefly  from  Kentucky,  he  arrived, 
on  January  10,  1813,  at  Maumee  Rapids;  and  three 
days  later  he  despatched  against  the  British  and  Indians, 
concentrated  at  Frenchtown,  a  small  body  of  troops 
under  Colonels  Allen  and  Lewis.  The  position  was 
attacked  and  taken  on  the  i8th,  and  Winchester  arrived 
with  reinforcements  on  the  2Oth.  Our  success,  how 
ever,  was  short-lived.  Colonel  Procter,  who  was  at 
Maiden,  eighteen  miles  distant,  at  once  started  for 
Frenchtown,  at  the  head  of  1 500  British  and  Indians.  Win 
chester's  men  had  taken  only  slight  precautions  against 
a  surprise.  Early  on  the  morning  of  the  22d,  they 
were  assailed  by  the  enemy,  and  completely  routed. 
Winchester,  who  was  made  prisoner  by  the  Indians, 
offered  to  surrender  his  whole  force,  on  condition  that 
they  should  be  protected  from  the  violence  of  the 
savages.  Procter  replied  that  he  would  grant  such  pro 
tection  if  the  surrender  took  place  immediately,  but 
that  otherwise  he  would  set  fire  to  the  village,  and 
could  not  be  responsible  for  the  conduct  of  the  red 
men.  On  our  submitting,  Colonel  Procter,  leaving  the 
wounded  without  a  guard,  withdrew  to  Maiden,  fearing 
the  approach  of  Harrison,  who  was  then  on  the  Lower 
Sandusky.  The  Indians  accompanied  their  British 
comrades  some  miles  on  the  road,  but  next  morning 
turned  back,  set  fire  to  the  houses  in  Frenchtown,  and, 
falling  on  our  injured  forces,  committed  a  shocking 
massacre,  attended  by  circumstances  of  great  atrocity. 
On  reaching  the  Maumee  Rapids,  Harrison  learned 
of  the  defeat  of  his  countrymen  at  Frenchtown.  Being 
under  the  impression  that  Procter  would  speedily  attack 
him,  he  retreated  on  January  23;  but,  on  Febru 
ary  I,  hearing  that  the  English  had  gone  towards 
Maiden,  he  again  advanced  to  the  Rapids,  with  1200 


THE    WAR    OF  1812-1815.  183 

men,  and  established  there  a  fortified  camp,  which  he 
called  Fort  Meigs,  after  the  Governor  of  Ohio.  This 
fort  was  erected  on  the  south  side  of  the  Maumee, 
nearly  opposite  a  post  which  had  formerly  been  occu 
pied  by  the  British,  and  a  short  distance  from  the  present 
village  of  Perrysburg.  The  position  was  selected  as  a 
convenient  point  for  receiving  reinforcements  and  sup 
plies  from  Ohio  and  Kentucky,  for  protecting  the  bor 
ders  of  Lake  Erie,  and  for  facilitating  the  proposed 
operations  for  the  re-capture  of  Detroit  and  the  invasion 
of  Canada.  For  some  weeks  Harrison  remained  un 
molested  at  this  spot,  but,  on  April  26,  Procter,  with 
2OOO  regulars,  militia,  and  Indians,  from  Maiden,  ap 
peared  on  the  bank  of  the  river  opposite  the  fort,  erected 
batteries  on  some  high  ground,  and  began  a  siege.  The 
Indians  crossed  the  river  on  the  2/th,  and  took  up  a 
position  in  Harrison's  rear,  which  by  May  3,  was 
severely  galled  by  a  battery  erected  on  the  left  bank. 
Harrison  was  summoned  to  surrender,  but  refused,  and, 
on  May  5,  General  Clay,  with  1200  Kentuckians_, 
arrived  to  the  relief  of  Fort  Meigs,  and  ultimately  suc 
ceeded  in  driving  the  besiegers  from  their  works. 
Shortly  afterwards,  several  of  the  American  troops,  with 
the  rashness  of  volunteers,  dispersed  themselves  through 
the  woods  in  pursuit  of  the  Indians,  though  ordered  by 
their  commander  not  to  expose  themselves  to  so  great 
a  peril.  In  a  little  while  they  were  drawn  into  an 
ambuscade ;  the  enemy  rallied,  and  forced  them  to  lay 
down  their  arms ;  and  the  latter  would  probably  have 
been  massacred  to  a  man,  had  not  the  Indian  chief, 
Tecumseh,  restrained  his  followers  from  indulging  their 
vengeance.  As  it  was,  several  were  slain,  and  many 
more  captured ;  the  remainder  fled  to  the  nearest  settle 
ments,  or  escaped  into  the  fort,  which  was  still  defended 
with  much  obstinacy.  This  determination  soon  wearied 
out  the  Indians,  who,  on  May  8,  deserted  the  camp, 


1 84 


THE  BATTLES   OF  AMERICA. 


notwithstanding  the  entreaties  of  their  chief.  The  Brit 
ish  raised  the  siege  on  the  following  day,  when  General 
Harrison,  leaving  Clay  in  command,  returned  to  Ohio 
for  reinforcements.  All  operations  in  this  quarter  were 
now  suspended,  and  did  not  recommence  until  a  naval 
force  was  ready  for  action  on  Lake  Erie. 

After  raising  the  siege  at  Fort  Meigs,  nothing  occurred 
in  that  locality  until  July  21,  when  about  4000  British 
and  Indians  under  Procter  and  Tecumseh,  again  appeared 
before  that  stronghold.  A  week  later  Procter  left  Te 
cumseh  to  watch  the  Fort  while  he  marched  with  500 
regulars  and  800  Indians  to  attack  Fort  Stephenson,  at 
Lower  Sandusky.  The  garrison  consisted  of  only  150 
soldiers,  commanded  by  Major  Croghan,  then  only  21 
years  old.  Although  the  strength  of  the  place  was  not 
great,  Croghan  resisted  the  attacks  of  his  adversary 
with  much  spirit.  A  breach  in  the  walls  was  made  on 
August  2,  when  500  of  the  besiegers  endeavored  to 
take  the  position  by  assault.  Croghan  had  only  one 
gun,  but  this  was  so  effectively  worked  that  the  assail 
ants  recoiled,  and,  leaving  150  killed  and  wounded  on 
the  ground,  abandoned  the  attempt.  We  had  only  one 
man  killed  and  seven  wounded ;  and  Procter,  with  his 
Indian  ally,  left  for  Detroit,  despairing  of  success  at  Fort 
Meigs.  This  put  us  in  better  spirits  and  discouraged 
the  Indians  in  their  hostile  designs. 

It  was  now  resolved  to  fit  out  a  squadron  on  Lake 
Ontario.  By  April  25,  1813,  this  was  sufficiently  ad 
vanced  to  permit  of  a  forward  movement.  At  the  head 
of  1700  men  General  Dearborn  crossed  the  lake,  and 
prepared  to  attack  Toronto,  the  Capital  of  Upper  Can 
ada,  and  the  principal  depository  of  British  military 
stores  for  the  supply  of  the  western  garrisons.  Dear 
born's  troops  landed  before  Toronto  on  the  2/th.  They 
were  then  two  miles  west  from  the  defensive  works,  and 
were  galled  by  a  constant  fire  from  the  British  forces, 


THE    WAR   OF  1S1S-1S15. 


I85 


who  were  stationed  some   distance   in  advance   of  the 
fortifications. 

General  Pike  led  our  troops,  who  landed,  and  after  a 
severe  action  drove  back  the  adversary  to  his  works. 
The  rest  of  the  forces  were  embarked,  and  the  whole 
army  moved  up  to  the  assault.  The  garrison  had  but 
600  men  and  there  was  little  doubt  of  the  issue.  Two 


TECUMSEH. 

redoubts  were  captured,  when  the  magazine  of  the  fort 
blew  up,  killing  General  Pike.  The  losses  on  both  sides 
were  great,  owing  to  the  blowing  up  of  the  fort. 

Dearborn  remained  on  board  the  fleet  during  the 
earlier  part  of  the  action,  but  landed  soon  after  Pike's 
death,  though  he  did  not  assume  the  command  until 
after  the  surrender  of  the  town,  which  was  sacked. 


!86  THE  BATTLES   OF  AMERICA. 

General  SheafTe  escaped  with  the  principal  part  of  his 
troops,  but  lost  all  his  baggage,  books,  and  papers. 

The  fleet  now  proceeded  to  Niagara,  landed  troops 
there,  and  returned  to  Sackett's  Harbor.  The  next  ob 
ject  of  attack  on  the  part  of  the  army  was  Fort  George, 
situated  on  the  western  shore  of  the  river  Niagara,  near 
its  mouth.  The  garrison,  on  May  27,  fled  to  Burling 
ton  Heights,  at  the  western  extremity  of  Lake  Ontario, 
pursued  by  our  forces  under  Generals  Chandler  and 
Winder.  The  detached  British  garrisons  in  that  direc 
tion  being  afterwards  concentrated  in  a  favorable  posi 
tion,  40  miles  west  of  Fort  George,  a  more  vigorous  re 
sistance  was  opposed  to  our  advance.  Our  two  gener 
als,  with  a  corps  of  lOOO  men,  were  so  successfully  at 
tacked  at  Stony  Creek  that  both  officers  were  captured  ; 
and  the  arrival  of  the  British  fleet,  under  James  Yeo, 
compelled  the  return  to  the  main  body  of  the  army, 
with  a  serious  loss  of  artillery  and  baggage.  Soon 
afterwards,  another  800  men,  who  had  been  sent  to  make 
an  attack  on  Beaver  Dam,  were  surrounded  and  cap 
tured.  The  British,  however,  were  unsuccessful  in  an 
attack  on  Sackett's  Harbor  by  a  combined  land  and 
naval  force. 

Several  other  small  actions  took  place  about  the  same 
period,  and  Toronto  was  captured  and  plundered  a  sec 
ond  time;  but,  as  autumn  advanced,  the  British,  who 
had  been  preparing  a  flotilla  on  Lake  Ontario,  found 
themselves  in  a  superior  position.  On  October  7, 
Yeo  appeared  with  his  fleet  before  Fort  George;  Com 
modore  Chauncey  went  out  to  meet  him  with  his  squad 
ron,  and,  in  a  gale  which  happened  on  the  night  of  the 
8th,  lost  two  of  his  schooners,  with  the  greater  part  of 
their  crews.  An  action  was  fought  on  the  loth,  when 
we  lost  two  more  schooners ;  but  the  fleets  afterwards 
separated,  without  any  decided  success  on  either  side. 
On  Lake  Champlain,  the  British  destroyed  Plattsburg, 


THE    WAR    OF  1812-1815.  jg; 

and,  on  the  whole,  the  balance  of  advantages  now 
inclined  towards  their  side.  We  had  for  some  time 
been  greatly  dissatisfied  with  General  Dearborn.  He 
had  been  a  constant  invalid,  had  never  once  led  his 
troops  in  person,  had  sustained  many  heavy  losses,  and 
had  let  slip  the  most  favorable  opportunity  for  a  descent 
on  Montreal.  He  was  accordingly  relieved  in  June, 
and  General  Wilkinson  was  called  from  the  South  to 
take  his  place.  This  officer,  like  his  predecessor,  had 
seen  service  during  the  War  of  Independence,  but  was 
still  less  than  sixty  years  of  age.  He  arrived  at 
Sackett's  Harbor  on  August  I,  and  the  War  Depart 
ment,  now  under  the  direction  of  General  Armstrong, 
was  for  a  time  removed  to  the  same  place.  It  was 
determined  to  attack  Montreal  with  an  army  of  8000 
men,  as  soon  as  the  necessary  preparations  could  be 
completed  ;  but  it  took  three  months  to  get  all  things  in 
readiness  for  so  important  an  expedition.  The  delay 
gave  the  British  authorities  time  to  fortify  every  impor 
tant  point  on  the  St.  Lawrence ;  so  that  when  the 
flotilla  set  sail,  on  November  5,  it  was' found  impos 
sible  to  proceed  far  without  encountering  the  most  seri 
ous  resistance.  A  body  of  troops,  under  the  command 
of  General  Brown,  was  therefore  set  on  shore,  and 
these  men,  marching  in  advance  of  the  boats,  endeav 
ored  to  dislodge  the  enemy  from  his  posts  on  the 
river.  At  Chrystler's  Fields,  near  Williamsburg,  the 
rear  division,  under  General  Boyd,  encountered  a  large 
British  force  on  November  10.  An  obstinate  engage 
ment  terminated  in  our  favor.  At  a  considerable  loss  of 
men,  we  succeeded  in  re-opening  the  stream  for  the 
passage  of  the  flotilla.  General  Wilkinson  arrived  on 
the  following  day  at  St.  Regis,  where  General  Hampton 
was  to  have  co-operated  with  him.  That  officer,  how 
ever,  had  neglected  to  obey  his  orders,  alleging  that  the 
sickly  condition  of  his  troops,  and  a  lack  of  provisions, 


THE  BATTLES  OF  AMERICA. 

had  induced  him  to  fall  back  on  his  main  depot  at 
Plattsburg,  in  the  hope  of  maintaining  his  communica 
tions  with  the  St.  Lawrence,  and  thus  contributing  to 
the  success  of  the  expedition.  He  had  in  truth  been 
foiled  by  a  body  of  Canadian  militia.  The  failure  of 
Hampton  to  effect  his  junction  with  the  Commander- 
in-Chief  proved  fatal  to  the  entire  enterprise.  Wilkin 
son  at  once  retreated,  and,  establishing  himself  at 
French  Mills,  put  his  army  into  winter-quarters. 
Hampton  was  deprived  of  his  command  ;  but  by  many 
the  blame  was  rather  imputed  to  General  Armstrong, 
and  by  some  to  Wilkinson.  The  three  officers  found  it 
impossible  to  agree,  and  their  bickerings  as  to  precedence 
had  much  to  do  with  the  collapse  of  the  expedition. 

The  war  acquired  a  more  ruthless  character  with 
time,  as  such  wars  generally  do.  A  British  squadron 
stationed  in  Delaware  Bay  captured  and  burned  every 
merchant-vessel  it  encountered,  and  the  village  of 
Lewiston,  in  the  State  of  Delaware,  was  bombarded  and 
seriously  injured,  because  the  inhabitants  refused  to  sell 
provisions  to  the  enemy.  In  Chesapeake  Bay,  Admiral 
Cockburn  plundered  private  houses  near  the  shore,  and 
drove  away  cattle  for  the  sustenance  of  his  men. 
Frenchtown,  Havre-de-Grace,  Fredericktown,  George 
town,  and  other  places,  were  sacked  and  burned; 
Hampton  was  captured,  after  a  determined  resistance, 
which  drew  down  on  the  unfortunate  people  may  acts 
of  barbarous  vengeance  ;  Norfolk  was  attacked  with 
great  fury,  but  saved  by  the  courage  of  a  small  force 
stationed  on  Craney  Island,  in  the  harbor,  and  much 
open  country  was  laid  waste.  In  retaliation  Toronto 
and  Newcastle,  on  the  Canadian  side  of  the  border, 
were  destroyed  by  fire,  and  many  hundreds  of  non- 
combatants  were  thrown  houseless  on  the  world  in  the 
midst  of  a  northern  winter.  Each  side  accused  the 
other  of  provoking  these  outrages. 


THE    WAR    OF  1812-1815.  ifo 

Perry's  signal  victory  on  Lake  Erie  caused  the 
utmost  satisfaction  throughout  the  Union.  It  was  the 
first  time  that  our  vessels  had  obtained  any  advantage 
over  a  squadron,  and  the  action  soon  produced  very 
important  effects  on  the  military  policy  of  the  enemy. 
It  placed  Colonel  Procter  and  his  Indian  allies  in  a 
dangerous  position,  and  enabled  us  to  make  a  move 
ment  towards  the  recovery  of  the  ground  which  had 
been  lost  by  the  mismanagement  of  General  Hull.  The 
command  of  Lake  Erie  was  secured,  and  a  reinforce 
ment  of  4000  Kentucky  volunteers  under  Governor 
Shelby  arrived  on  September  17  in  the  neighbor 
hood  of  the  lake.  General  Harrison  thereupon  pro 
ceeded  by  water  to  Maiden,  now  abandoned  by  the 
British  under  Procter,  who,  a  few  days  before,  had 
ascended  the  river  Thames  as  far  as  the  Moravian 
villages  on  that  stream.  At  this  spot  they  were  over 
taken  by  General  Harrison  on  October  5,  and  com 
pletely  routed.  Of  the  British,  600  were  made 
prisoners,  and  Colonel  Procter,  who  narrowly  escaped, 
left  his  camp-equipage  and  all  his  papers  behind  him. 
The  slaughter  of  the  Indians  was  very  great,  and  their 
chief  Tecumseh  was  among  the  killed.  He  was  at  that 
time  about  forty  years  of  age — a  man  of  courage  and 
of  some  intellectual  power,  possessing  all  that  melan 
choly  dignity  which  is  characteristic  of  the  Indian  race. 
Among  the  trophies  of  the  victory  near  the  Moravian 
villages  were  six  brass  field-pieces  recently  given  up  by 
General  Hull,  on  two  of  which  were  inscribed  the 
words,  "Surrendered  by  Burgoyne  at  Saratoga." 
Detroit  and  all  the  other  posts  in  that  direction  were 
now  once  more  in  our  hands  ;  the  war  in  the  Northwest 
was  brought  to  an  end ;  and  the  Indian  confederacy 
was  completely  broken  up  by  the  submission  of  four 
important  tribes,  who  sent  deputies  to  General  Harri 
son,  and  entered  into  treaties  of  alliance. 


190 


THE   BATTLES   OF  AMERICA. 


It  was  not  merely,  however,  on  the  borders  of 
Canada  that  we  had  been  threatened  with  Indian  feroc 
ity,  and  it  was  not  only  there  that  the  danger  was  now 
extinguished.  At  the  commencement  of  the  war, 
Tecumseh  had  visited  the  Creeks  and  Seminoles  on  the 
frontiers  of  Georgia,  and  excited  their  fanaticism  against 
the  white  inhabitants  of  that  region.  About  the  end  of 
August,  they  surprised  a  fort  in  an  exposed  situation, 
and  massacred  all  within,  including  women  and  chil 
dren.  General  Jackson,  of  Tennessee,  thereupon  led  a 
large  body  of  militia  into  the  wilds,  to  punish  the 
offenders.  The  Indians  were  hunted  down,  brought  to 
bay  in  a  series  of  bloody  encounters,  and  decimated  by 
continual  slaughter.  Their  last  stand  was  made  in  a 
fortified  camp  at  the  Great  Horseshoe  Bend  of  the 
Tallapoosa  River,  i-n  what  is  now  the  State  of  Alabama, 
where  1000  warriors,  with  their  women  and  children, 
determined  to  brave  the  worst.  They  were  surrounded, 
and  Jackson  made  his  assault  on  March  27,  1814. 
Driven  backwards  and  forwards  by  the  troops  in  their 
front  and  the  troops  in  their  rear,  and  seeing  no  pos 
sibility  of  escape,  the  savages  fought  with  desperate 
tenacity.  The  battle  lasted  until  night ;  but  the  issue 
was  never  doubtful.  Disdaining  to  surrender,  almost 
600  of  the  Indians  fell  dead  upon  the  field  ;  300  escaped  ; 
and  Jackson  with  a  heavy  loss  in  killed  and  wounded, 
remained  master  of  the  ground.  This  action  so  com 
pletely  crushed  the  spirit  of  the  Creeks,  and  went  so 
near  towards  annihilating  them  as  a  nation,  that  the 
remainder  soon  after  signified  their  submission. 

At  the  close  of  1813,  we  were  in  a  more  favorable 
position  than  that  occupied  a  year  beTore.  We  had 
had  several  important  triumphs  at  sea;  had  not  always 
been  vanquished  on  land ;  and  the  nation  was  fully 
determined  to  spare  no  exertion  in  the  further  prosecu 
tion  of  hostilities. 


THE    WAR   OF  1812-1815.  igi 

As  the  year  1814  progressed  it  became  evident  that 
the  war  would  assume  a  much  more  serious  character. 
The  abdication  of  Napoleon,  in  April,  and  his  banish 
ment  to  Elba,  put  an  end  to  the  long  war  with  revolu 
tionary  France ;  and  England,  being  now  at  peace  on 


GENERAL   ANDREW  JACKSON. 
(Afterwards  President  of  the  United  States.} 

the  Continent  of  Europe,  was  free  to  direct  her  whole 
strength  against  the  United  States.  Before  the  occur 
rence  of  these  great  events,  the  war  had  fallen  into  a 
somewhat  languid  condition.  Towards  the  close  of 
March,  General  Wilkinson  entered  Canada,  and  attacked 


BATTLES  OF  AMERICA. 

a  number  of  English  troops  stationed  in  a  large  stone 
mill  on  the  river  La  Colle,  but  was  soon  repulsed  with 
heavy  loss,  and,  having  for  some  time  sunk  much  in 
popular  esteem,  was  shortly  afterwards  removed  from 
the  chief  command,  to  which  General  Izard  succeeded. 
Some  operations  for  obtaining  predominance  on  Lake 
Ontario  took  place  in  the  spring  of  1814.  On  May  5, 
Yeo,  who  was  in  command  of  a  small  English  squad 
ron,  appeared  before  Oswego,  with  3000  troops  and 
marines.  The  fort  on  the  east  side  of  the  river 
was  in  a  very  dilapidated  state,  and  defended  by  no 
more  than  300  men,  under  Colonel  Mitchell,  and  a 
flotilla  under  Captain  Woolsey.  A  large  quantity  of 
naval  and  military  stores  had  been  deposited  at  Oswego 
Falls,  some  miles  off,  and  one  object  of  Yeo's  expedi 
tion  was  to  capture  these,  or,  failing  that,  to  destroy 
them.  But  although,  after  a  resistance  of  nearly  two 
days,  the  fort  yielded  to  a  combined  attack  by  land  and 
water,  the  British  did  not  care  to  penetrate  farther  into 
the  country,  and  accordingly  withdrew  on  the  morn 
ing  of  the  /th,  with  a  loss  of  235  men  in  killed  and 
wounded.  Our  loss  was  but  69.  Early  in  July,  our 
forces  under  General  Brown  crossed  the  Niagara  River, 
and  invested  Fort  Erie,  which  surrendered  without 
opposition.  The  garrison  retired  to  the  entrenched 
camp  of  General  Riall,  situated  at  Chippewa,  about 
two  miles  above  the  Falls  of  Niagara,  on  the  Canada 
side  of  the  river ;  and  here  Brown  determined  on 
attacking  his  adversaries  a  second  time.  On  July  4, 
he  advanced  against  the  position,  and  next  day  a 
sanguinary  battle  was  fought  in  the  open  fields,  ending 
in  the  defeat  of  the  British,  who  fell  back  to  Fort 
George,  and  subsequently  to  the  Heights  of  Burlington. 
The  British  army  had  by  this  time  been  reinforced  by 
veteran  regiments,  accustomed  to  frequent  triumphs  in 
the  Spanish  Peninsula  and  on  other  European  fields, 


194 


THE   BATTLES   OF  AMERICA. 


where  they  had  successfully  encountered  the  best 
troops  of  France.  We  therefore  found  ourselves 
opposed  by  large  and  formidable  hosts — by  men  who 
had  fought  and  conquered  under  the  lead  of  Welling 
ton  and  the  other  heroes  of  that  prolonged  struggle. 

Soon  after  arriving  at  Burlington  Heights,  General 
Riall  was  joined  by  General  Drummond,  with  a  large 
number  of  additional  troops.  Our  expected  reinforce 
ments  were  blockaded  by  a  British  fleet  off  Sackett's 
Harbor,  and  could  not  reach  their  comrades.  They 
were  therefore  compelled  to  do  the  best  they  could 
with  a  force  inferior  to  the  enemy  ;  but  the  events  of 
July  25  showed  that  they  had  not  altogether  miscal 
culated  their  strength.  The  attack  was  commenced  by 
the  British  under  Drummond,  and  the  battle  raged  for 
some  hours  with  unabated  violence.  Night  fell  before 
the  action  reached  its  close,  and  a  cloudy  sky  gave 
intermitting  glimpses  of  moonlight,  by  which  the 
antagonists  sought  out  each  other's  positions,  and 
wrestled  long  and  bloodily  for  the  advantage.  For  a 
considerable  time,  we  were  much  annoyed  by  a  British 
battery  planted  on  a  commanding  eminence.  "  Can 
you  capture  those  guns?"  asked  General  Ripley  of 
Colonel  Miller.  "  I  will  try,  sir,"  replied  that  officer  ; 
and  the  modest  words  have  since  become  the  motto  of 
his  regiment.  The  attempt  was  gallantly  made.  Again 
and  again  Miller  led  his  men  to  the  assault,  sometimes 
momentarily  seizing  the  position,  and  then  losing  it. 
Cannon  were  brought  up  to  support  the  attack,  and  gun 
charged  gun  with  obstinate  determination.  The  con 
fusion  was  so  great  that  the  guns  were  at  one  time 
interchanged  ;  but  no  decided  result  attended  the  heroic 
effort.  The  close  of  the  day  has  been  variously 
described.  Our  historians  allege  that  the  victory  was 
with  us ;  but  it  seems  more  probable  that  the  balance  of 
advantages  laid  against  us.  Immediately  after  the 


THE    WAR    OF  1812-1815.  j^tj 

battle,  we  retreated  to  Fort  Erie,  where  we  were 
besieged  by  the  enemy.  The  losses  on  both  sides  were 
serious.  General  Riall  was  severely  wounded  and 
taken  prisoner;  and  Generals  Brown  and  Scott  were 
compelled  by  their  injuries  to  quit  the  field. 

On  August  4,  Drummond,  who  had  also  been 
wounded,  appeared  before  Fort  Erie,  and  commenced 
preparations  for  a  siege.  He  was  in  command  of  5000 
troops ;  his  works  were  speedily  advanced  to  within 
four  hundred  yards  of  our  lines;  and,  on  the  night  of 
August  15,  the  besiegers  made  an  assault  upon  the 
fort,  which  was  gallantly  repulsed.  On  September  2, 
General  Brown,  who  had  by  that  time  recovered  from 
his  wounds,  threw  himself  into  the  fort,  and  took  com 
mand  of  the  garrison,  which,  being  strengthened  by 
5000  men  from  Plattsburg,  felt  equal  to  offensive 
operations.  The  i^th  was  signalized  by  a  sortie  from 
the  besieged,  who  endeavored  to  cut  off  the  British 
advanced  posts  from  the  main  body.  The  enemy's 
entrenchments  were  for  a  time  seized  and  the  works 
destroyed  ;  but,  on  Drummond  hurrying  up  reinforce 
ments,  Brown  was  obliged  to  retreat;  and  was  so  much 
discouraged  that,  on  the  night  of  the  2ist,  after  having 
remained  on  the  ground  forty-nine  days,  he  retired  to 
entrenchments  behind  the  Chippewa.  General  Izard 
arrived  on  October  9  and  took  the  command ;  but, 
considering  it  inexpedient  to  attempt  any  further  opera 
tions  in  that  quarter,  he  demolished  the  works  at  Fort 
Erie,  and  removed  his  troops  to  Buffalo.  Thus  the 
attempt  on  Canada  was  once  more  abandoned. 

Plattsburg  being  now  left  almost  defenceless,  the 
British  determined  to  attack  it  by  land,  and  at  the 
same  time  to  attempt  the  destruction  of  our  flotilla  on 
Lake  Champlain.  At  the  head  of  14,000  men,  most  of 
whom  were  veterans  of  the  European  wars,  Prevost  on 
September  6  arrived  at  Plattsburg.  The  garrison  of 

Independence— -13 


196  THE  BATTLES   OF  AMERICA. 

the  town  consisted  mainly  of  the  militia  of  New  York 
and  Vermont  ;  hastily  drawn  together  by  General 
Macomb  on  the  first  alarm  of  invasion.  Retiring  to 
the  south  side  of  the  Saranac,  they  prepared  to  dispute 
the  passage  of  the  stream.  With  the  planks  of  the 
bridges,  which  they  had  torn  up,  they  formed  slight 
breastworks,  and,  thus  aided,  were  able  to  defeat  all 
endeavors  to  follow  them.  For  some  days  the  invaders 
were  employed  in  erecting  batteries,  and  early  on  the 
morning  of  the  nth  the  British  squadron,  commanded 
by  Commodore  Downie,  appeared  off  the  harbor  of 
Plattsburg,  where  that  of  the  United  States,  under 
Commodore  Macdonough,  lay  at  anchor.  The  former 
carried  ninety-five  guns,  with  a  complement  of  upwards 
of  1000  men ;  the  latter  had  eighty-six  guns,  and  820 
men.  A  naval  battle  between  these  forces  commenced 
at  nine  o'clock  ;  and  at  the  same  time  the  British  army 
began  a  heavy  cannonade  upon  our  lines,  and  attempted 
at  different  places  to  cross  the  Saranac.  The  opposi 
tion  to  those  attempts  was  so  determined,  and  the  loss 
of  life  so  serious,  that  the  British  forces  were  unable 
to  gain  the  other  side,  except  at  one  point,  where  the 
ford  was  weakly  guarded  by  militia.  Here  the  assailants 
managed  to  get  into  the  woods,  but  were  severely 
handled,  and  compelled,  after  a  while,  to  recross  the 
river.  At  six  o'clock  in  the  evening,  all  the  British 
batteries  were  silenced,  and  long  before  that  time  a 
great  naval  success  had  been  obtained  upon  the  lake. 
After  an  engagement  of  two  hours  and  twenty  minutes, 
the  English  squadron  was  completely  defeated ;  nearly 
all  the  ships  composing  it  were  sunk  or  taken  ;  Com 
modore  Downie  was  killed,  and  his  ship  was  compelled 
to  strike  her  colors,  amidst  the  triumphant  cheers  of 
the  Americans.  So  hard  had  been  the  fighting  on  both 
sides,  that  at  the  close  of  the  action  not  a  mast  was 
standing  uninjured  in  either  squadron.  Seeing  the 


THE    WAR    OF  1812-1815. 

complete  defeat  of  their  vessels,  the  British  land-com 
manders  determined  to  withdraw,  and  during  the  ensu 
ing  night  the  whole  army  moved  off  with  precipitation, 
leaving  behind  them  their  sick  and  wounded,  most  of 
their  camp-equipage,  and  their  entrenching  tools  and 
provisions.  Considering  the  excellent  material  of  which 
the  army  was  composed,  and  that  these  seasoned 
troops  were  beaten  by  a  force  consisting  for  the  most 
part  of  militia,  it  occasioned  great  rejoicing.  The  princi 
pal  seat  of  war  was  now  transferred  to  the  Southern 
and  Middle  States.  A  squadron  under  Cochrane,  having 
on  board  an  army  under  General  Ross,  sailed  up  the 
Chesapeake  in  the  month  of  August.  An  American 
flotilla,  commanded  by  Commodore  Barney,  had  taken 
shelter  in  the  Patuxent,  and  thither  Cochrane's  fleet 
sailed,  apparently  in  search  of  the  enemy.  The  British 
ships  were  too  large  to  proceed  any  great  way  up  the 
river,  and  moreover  Ross  had  plans  of  a  very  different 
nature,  to  which  the  temporary  pursuit  of  Barney 
served  as  a  convenient  blind.  The  army,  consisting  of 
nearly  5000  men,  was  disembarked  at  St.  Benedict's, 
that  they  might  march  upon  the  Federal  capital,  and 
compel  its  surrender.  Washington  was  defended  by  a 
force  which,  including  militia,  numbered  about  7000 
troops.  No  attempt  was  made  to  oppose  the  British 
advance,  for  Armstrong,  the  Secretary  for  War,  could 
not  persuade  himself  that  the  attack  was  seriously 
intended,  and  was  in  doubt  as  to  the  real  destination  of 
the  British  forces.  The  actual  command  was  in  the 
hands  of  General  Winder,  who  showed  great  indecision 
of  purpose,  but  at  length  resolved  to  make  a  stand 
against  the  invaders.  With  this  view  he  selected  a 
strong  position  at  Bladensburg,  covered  by  a  branch  of 
the  Potomac.  In  the  meanwhile,  the  British  were 
pushing  forward  without  the  slightest  opposition,  and, 
by  the  time  they  had  reached  Marlborough,  Com- 


THE  BATTLES   OF  AMERICA. 

modore  Barney  thought  it  prudent  to  destroy  his 
flotilla,  to  prevent  its  falling  into  the  enemy's  hands. 
Ross  cared  little  about  the  flotilla.  His  object  was 
Washington,  and  thither  he  pursued  his  march,  arriving 
in  its  neighborhood  on  August  24. 

It  was  necessary  in  the  first  instance  to  carry  the 
position  at  Blade nsburg.  Our  forces  numbered  more 
than  the  British ;  but  the  former  were  raw  militia — the 
latter,  experienced  and  highly-disciplined  troops.  The 
approach  to  the  town,  was  over  a  bridge,  which  was 
defended  by  artillery  taken  from  Barney's  flotilla  and 
served  by  Barney's  sailors.  The  resistance  at  this 
point  was  prolonged  and  courageous.  For  a  time,  the 
British  were  checked,  and  even  compelled  to  give  way; 
but  they  speedily  rallied,  out-flanked  the  defenders  of 
the  bridge,  and  finally  overpowered  them.  The  com 
mander  of  the  gallant  band,  being  wounded,  was 
captured,  and  paroled  for  his  courage  by  General  Ross. 
The  militia  acted  as  militia  generally  do.  They 
abandoned  their  positions  with  the  utmost  haste,  and 
Bladensburg  was  presently  in  the  hands  of  General 
Ross.  The  retreating  forces  were  ordered  to  assemble 
on  the  heights  near  the  capital,  and  at  this  spot  were 
joined  by  a  body  of  Virginian  militia.  But  Winder 
had  no  reliance  on  his  army.  He  considered  it  quite 
incapable  of  opposing  so  well-trained  an  enemy,  and 
accordingly  withdrew  to  Georgetown.  Washington 
was  at  the  same  time  abandoned  by  the  President,  the 
heads  of  departments,  and  most  of  the  citizens,  and 
was  shortly  afterwards  entered  by  the  victors.  It  was 
at  eight  o'clock  in  the  evening  when  General  Ross, 
with  an  advance-guard  of  800  men,  penetrated  into 
the  Federal  capital  Having  arrived  at  the  seat  of 
government,  he  offered  terms  of  capitulation,  and 
promised  that,  on  receiving  a  sum  of  money  equal  to 
the  value  of  the  public  and  private  property  which  the 


THE    WAR    OF  1812-1815. 


199 


place  contained,  the  city  should  be  ransomed,  and  the 
British  troops  drawn  off.  There  was  no  civil  or  mili 
tary  authority  on  the  spot  competent  to  enter  into  any 
such  arrangement.  Washington  was  doomed  to  the 
flames,  and,  in  the  immense  conflagration  which  was 
kindled,  the  President's  house,  the  offices  of  the  several 
departments,  a  considerable  number  of  private  dwellings, 
the  libraries  and  public  archives,  the  works  of  art  con 
tained  in  the  public  buildings,  the  navy-yard  and  its 
contents,  a  frigate  on  the  stocks,  and  several  smaller 
vessels,  were  involved  in  one  common  doom.  This 
act  of  shame  was  done  under  strict  orders  from  home. 
It  was  intended  to  fill  us  with  dread  of  what  was  to 
be  expected.  The  British  remained  close  to  the  burn 
ing  city  (the  light  of  which  was  seen  at  Baltimore, 
forty  miles  off)  till  the  25th,  when  they  retreated, 
On  the  3Oth  they  re-embarked  at  St.  Benedict's  and 
sailed  for  other  quarters.  The  bombarding  of  forti 
fied  towns,  however  dreadful,  is  among  the  per 
mitted,  and  even  necessary,  operations  of  warfare ;  but 
the  destruction  of  undefended  cities,  with  the  firing 
of  private  buildings  and  civic  offices,  is  an  act  which 
no  exigency  can  palliate.  General  Ross's  proceed 
ings  at  Washington  produced  the  very  natural  effect  of 
exciting  the  most  vehement  desire  for  revenge.  The 
war  became  all  the  more  popular  on  account  of  this 
disaster ;  and  some  even  of  those  who  had  hitherto 
refrained  from  giving  it  their  full  support,  now  resolved 
to  strain  every  nerve  for  repelling  the  invaders  of  their 
country. 

Ross  paid  heavily  for  his  success  at  Washington. 
The  losses  of  his  regiments,  including  deserters,  and 
such  as  died  from  fatigue  on  the  march,  besides 
those  who  were  killed  or  wounded  in  action,  were 
nearly  IOOO  men — a  very  large  proportion  of  the  small 
army  with  which  the  expedition  had  been  commenced. 


2QO  THE  BATTLES  OF  AMERICA. 

The  general,  however,  was  speedily  reinforced,  and  at 
once  turned  his  attention  towards  other  enterprises. 
He  prepared  to  attack  Baltimore,  and  on  Septem 
ber  12,  landed  with  nearly  8000  troops  at  North  Point, 
fourteen  miles  from  the  city,  while  a  portion  of  the 
fleet  went  up  the  Patapsco,  to  bombard  Fort  McHenry. 
Ross  boasted  that  he  would  make  Baltimore  his  winter- 
quarters,  and  that  with  the  force  at  his  command  he 
could  march  all  over  Maryland.  Preparations  had  been 
hurried  forward  for  resisting  the  threatened  attack,  and 
an  action  was  fought  some  way  in  advance  of  the 
capital.  At  the  head  of  a  small  reconnoitering  party, 
Ross  pushed  on  towards  the  city,  but,  shortly  after 
wards  receiving  a  ball  from  a  rifleman,  died  in  a  few 
minutes  in  the  arms  of  his  aide-de-camp.  Colonel 
Brooke  then  took  the  command,  and  ultimately  suc 
ceeded  in  driving  our  forces  back  on  the  main  body.  The 
British  bivouacked  for  the  night  on  ground  beyond  the 
battle-field,  and  on  the  1 3th  recommenced  their  march. 
In  the  meanwhile,  Fort  McHenry*  and  Fort  Covington, 
which  defend  the  narrow  passage  from  the  Patapsco 
into  the  harbor  of  Baltimore,  were  being-  bombarded 

c> 

by  a  British  squadron  of  sixteen  ships,  drawn  up  in 
line-of-battle  within  two  miles  and  a  half  of  the  forts. 
On  the  night  following  the  I3th,  an  attempt  was  made 
to  storm  these  works ;  but  it  was  successfully  resisted. 
The  squadron  thereupon  sailed  down  the  river,  and 
Colonel  Brooke  considered  it  prudent  to  withdraw  his 
men.  Admiral  Cochrane  had  found  himself  much 
incommoded  by  the  shaliowness  of  the  harbor,  and  by 
the  vessels  sunk  at  its  mouth  ;  and  his  inability  to  carry 
out  with  completeness  one  feature  of  the  programme, 
caused  the  failure  of  the  entire  design.  The  whole 

*  During  the  bombardment  of  Fort  McHenry,  Francis  S.  Key,  who 
was  detained  on  board  a  British  vessel,  wrote  the  celebrated  song,  "The 
Star- Spangled  Banner." 


THE    WAR    OF  1812-1815.  2OI 

fleet  soon  afterwards  left  Chesapeake  Bay,  and  a  por 
tion  turned  southward,  with  a  view  to  fresh  operations. 

A  few  weeks  before — viz.,  on  August  29 — the  city 
of  Alexandria,  on  the  Potomac,  had  surrendered  to  a 
British  squadron.  The  shipping,  naval  stores,  and 
merchandise,  were  delivered  up  to  the  attacking  force  ; 
the  vessels  in  the  harbor  were  seized,  and  loaded  with 
a  large  amount  of  produce,  of  which  Alexandria  was 
the  depot;  but  the  town  was  spared  from  destruction. 

The  coasts  of  New  England,  which  had  hitherto  been 
treated  with  great  tenderness,  now  felt  the  stress  of 
war.  Villages  were  bombarded  and  destroyed;  vessels 
moored  in  the  rivers  were  burned;  and  in  many  ways 
the  inhabitants  were  made  to  feel  that  they  were  part  of 
the  Confederation  which  was  the  enemy  of  England. 
Commodore  Hardy,  in  command  of  a  squadron,  and  of 
I2OO  troops,  took  possession  of  Eastport,  on  Moose 
Island,  Maine,  on  July  II,  and,  after  erecting  fortifi 
cations  there,  required  the  people  to  take  the  oath  of 
allegiance  to  the  English  Sovereign,  or  to  quit  the 
island.  Having  accomplished  this  object,  he  retired  ; 
but  similar  conquests,  if  such  they  can  be  called,  were 
effected  in  other  parts  of  the  same  territory.  All  the 
strongholds  on  the  Penobscot  were  reduced.  A  frigate, 
called  the  Jolin  Adams,  was  captured,  though  not  with 
out  a  gallant  fight.  Some  Islands  in  Passamaquoddy 
Bay  were  seized.  Half  the  province  of  Maine  was 
obliged  to  capitulate ;  and  the  Governor  of  Nova 
Scotia,  took  possession  of  it  in  the  name  of  George  III. 
The  British  operations  extended  to  the  coast  of  Mas 
sachusetts.  The  people  of  Cape  Cod  were  prohibited 
from  fishing  on  the  banks,  and,  in  consequence  of  this 
deprivation  of  their  chief  industry,  were  reduced  to 
great  distress.  The  inhabitants  of  Nantucket  were 
forced  to  promise  neutrality  during  the  remainder  of 
the  war ;  and  at  various  points  in  the  same  direction 


2Q2  THE  BATTLES   OF  AMERICA, 

the  British  naval  commanders  imposed  their  own  terms 
on  a  people  who  were  left  without  adequate  protection, 
and  were  themselves  not  very  well  inclined  towards  the 
prosecution  of  hostilities. 

The  war  was  in  fact  becoming  every  day  more 
unpopular  in  the  New  England  States.  The  prevalent 
feeling  was  a  desire  to  isolate  those  States  from  the  rest 
of  the  Federation,  and  striking  advances  were  made  in 
that  direction.  It  was  proposed  in  Massachusetts  to 
withhold  the  State  revenue  from  the  national  treasury, 
and  to  apply  it  to  purposes  of  local  defence.  In  suc 
ceeding  times  this  action  was  referred  to  with  great 
reprobation  by  the  Southern  and  Western  States,  as 
showing  that,  during  the  crisis  of  a  foreign  war,  New 
England  was  disposed  to  separate  herself  from  the  rest 
of  the  Union. 

The  British  in  the  Gulf  of  Mexico,  strongly  rein 
forced  by  fresh  troops  from  England,  were  about  to 
invade  Louisiana.  The  authorities  of  New  Orleans 
begged  Jackson  to  hurry  to  their  assistance.  He  lost 
no  time  in  answering  the  appeal ;  and  by  prompt  and 
vigorous  action,  he  restored  confidence  to  the  city 
authorities.  He  declared  martial  law,  and  weeded  the 
city  of  the  traitorously  disposed.  The  English  com 
manders  had  hoped  to  arrive  at  the  point  of  attack  before 
any  intelligence  of  their  plans  had  reached  it.  Under 
ordinary  conditions,  New  Orleans  was  vulnerable  to  a 
spirited  assault;  but  Jackson  had  time  to  increase  its 
defences,  which,  in  addition  to  the  swampy  nature  of 
the  soil  where  the  mouths  of  the  Mississippi  empty 
themselves  into  the  Gulf,  enabled  our  forces  to  offer  a 
determined  and  successful  resistance  when  the  foe  at 
length  appeared.  Every  man  who  could  bear  arms 
was  required  to  take  part  in  the  military  operations. 
Fort  St.  Philip,  which  guarded  the  passage  of  the  Mis 
sissippi  was  strengthened  by  new  works.  An  exten- 


THE    WAR    OF  1812-1815. 


2O3 


sive  line  of  fortifications  was  erected  four  miles  below 
the  city  on  the  left  bank  of  the  river,  from  the  edge  of 
which  it  ran  eastward  towards  an  impenetrable  cypress 
swamp.  A  ditch  already  existing  between  the  river 
and  the  swamp  was  turned  to  military  uses  by  throwing 
up  entrenchments,  and  accumulating  cotton-bales  until 
they  reached  a  height  calculated  to  afford  protection  to 
troops  in  the  rear.  Cannon  were  mounted  at  every 
available  point,  and  the  west  bank  of  the  river  was  held 
by  General  Morgan,  with  a  body  of  militia,  and  by 
Commodore  Paterson,  with  the  crews  and  guns  of  part 
of  his  squadron.  The  approach  of  the  enemy  towards 
the  principal  works  was  thus  enfiladed.  Above  the 
town,  the  pass  of  the  Bayou  St.  John  was  guarded  by  a 
detachment  stationed  there  for  that  purpose;  and  a 
small  squadron  of  gun-boats  was  kept  in  readiness  to 
dispute  the  passage  of  the  river  between  Lake  Pont- 
chartrain  and  Lake  Borgne. 

On  December  14  the  British  fleet  appeared  at  the 
entrance  to  this  channel,  and  was  met  by  the  flotilla 
of  gun-boats,  which  commenced  a  spirited  action.  In 
the  first  instance,  the  attacking  force  sent  forward  40 
launches,  which,  after  some  severe  fighting,  captured 
and  destroyed  our  vessels.  This  success  was  obtained 
at  a  considerable  cost  in  killed  and  wounded;  but  it 
enabled  the  British  to  choose  their  point  of  attack.  On 
December  22  they  despatched  a  body  of  troops  in  flat- 
bottomed  boats,  which  were  rowed  up  to  the  extremity 
of  the  lake  and  there  landed  the  several  divisions  in  a 
reedy  swamp,  some  miles  from  the  city.  Here,  on  the 
night  of  the  23d,  they  were  attacked  by  General  Jack 
son.  A  considerable  loss  was  inflicted  on  the  British, 
but  they  were  not  dislodged  from  their  position,  and 
Jackson  fell  back  towards  the  town.  By  the  28th  the 
British  forces  had  arrived  within  half  a  mile  of  our 
lines,  from  which  point  they  opened  a  fire  of  shells  and 


2Q4  THE  BATTLES  OF  AMERICA. 

rockets,  but  were  repulsed  by  our  artillery.  Jackson's 
army  at  that  time  numbered  about  3000  men,  consisting 
for  the  most  part  of  militia.  These  troops  were  sta 
tioned  within  a  line  of  entrenchments,  a  mile  in  length, 
thrown  up  about  four  miles  from  New  Orleans,  guarded 
by  a  canal  in  front,  and  flanked  by  the  batteries  on  the 
west  or  opposite  bank  of  the  river,  in  addition  to  eight 
others  in  the  main  position.  The  assailants  continued 
to  advance,  and  on  the  night  of  the  3ist  were  within  300 
yards  of  the  works.  Having  taken  up  a  position,  pro 
tected  by  walls  made  out  of  hogsheads  of  sugar  and 
molasses,  they  erected  three  batteries,  under  cover  of 
which  they  three  times  endeavored  to  storm  the  en 
trenchments,  but  were  driven  back  with  great  loss,  and 
compelled  to  return  to  the  starting-place,  while  their 
batteries  were  silenced.  The  main  assault  was  post 
poned  for  a  few  days,  and  in  the  meantime  Pakenham, 
by  an  extraordinary  expenditure  of  labor,  dug  a  canal 
for  connecting  a  creek  which  emptied  into  Lake  Borgne 
with  the  main  channel  of  the  Mississippi,  in  order  that 
he  might  convey  a  part  of  his  boats  and  artillery  into 
the  river,  and  thus  silence  the  enemy's  batteries  on  the 
western  bank.  The  work  was  executed  in  an  amazingly 
short  space  of  time,  and  evinced  great  energy  on  the 
part  of  the  British  commander ;  but  it  had  no  effect  on 
the  result. 

Early  on  the  morning  of  January  8,  1815,  the  main 
body  of  the  British  army,  consisting  of  8000  men, 
moved  up  to  the  assault.  Within  a  few  days  previously, 
Jackson  had  been  reinforced  by  3000  militia,  chiefly 
from  Kentucky ;  so  that  he  had  now  6000  men,  with 
whom  to  defend  his  entrenchments  and  to  work  his  bat 
teries.  The  approach  of  the  British  was  not  resisted 
until  they  were  within  a  convenient  distance  of  the  op 
posing  lines ;  then,  with  a  sudden  flash  and  simultane 
ous  report,  showers  of  grape-shot  struck  the  advancing 


THE    WAR    OF  1812-1815. 

ranks.  Jackson  had  formed  his  troops  in  two  rows,  of 
which  the  rear-guard  loaded  for  those  in  front,  so  that 
the  fire  was  continued  with  scarcely  a  break.  The  men 
from  Kentucky  and  the  other  Western  States  were  un 
erring  marksmen,  and  the  effect  of  their  simultaneous 
volleys  was  deadly  in  the  extreme.  Still  the  British 
troops  pushed  on  ;  but  the  reedy  plain  was  soon  covered 
with  the  dying  and  the  dead.  Now  and  again  those 
hardy  veterans  staggered  and  fell  back,  but,  recovering 
themselves  after  awhile,  pressed  forward  on  what  was 
now  a  hopeless  enterprise.  The  order  of  battle  was  in 
two  columns,  of  which  the  left  advanced  along  an 
embankment  skirting  the  river,  while  the  right,  moving 
through  the  swamp,  endeavored  to  turn  the  left  of 
Jackson's  position.  Pakenham's  plans  were  in  some 
measure  disordered  by  an  untoward  event.  The  canal, 
which  had  been  very  roughly  executed,  had  partly  fallen 
in ;  the  boats,  on  whose  assistance  he  had  calculated, 
were  unable  to  come  up ;  and  the  party  that  had  been 
sent  forward  was  insufficient  in  numbers,  and  arrived 
too  late.  The  right  of  the  British  line  became  involved 
in  the  swamp  through  which  it  was  necessary  that  they 
should  pass:  they  were  consequently  unable  to  turn 
Jackson's  left,  and  were  at  length  compelled  to  retire. 
Pakenham  seems  to  have  been  rendered  desperate  by 
his  situation,  and  to  have  thought  that  mere  courage 
could  supply  the  defects  of  military  science.  He  placed 
himself  at  the  head  of  the  regiment  which  bore  the 
scaling  ladders,  and  called  upon  his  troops  to  follow. 
Some  of  his  officers,  seeing  the  impossibility  of  success, 
retired  from  the  field ;  but  Pakenham  had  apparently 
resolved  on  death.  Supported  by  a  number  of  his  men 
he  rushed  toward  the  entrenchments.  Some  officers 
and  soldiers  even  got  within  the  lines,  but  were  at  once 
shot  down.  Pakenham  himself  was  mortally  wounded  ; 
Gibbs,  the  second  in  command,  shared  the  same 


2o6  THE  BATTLES   OF  AMERICA. 

and  Keane,  the  third  in  command,  was  so  severely  in* 
jured  as  to  be  incapable  of  giving  orders.  It  was  evi 
dent  that  there  was  no  choice  but  to  retreat  as  speedily 
as  possible.  The  shattered  regiments  reeled  back  at 
eight  o'clock  in  the  morning,  and  New  Orleans  was  safe 
once  more.  Our  militia  desired  to  pursue  their  adver 
saries;  but  Jackson  knew  his  men,  and  was  well 
aware  that,  although  they  could  fight  heroically  be 
hind  defences,  they  were  of  less  worth  in  the  open 
field.  The  operations  against  New  Orleans  were  not  at 
once  abandoned,  for  on  the  pth  the  British  fleet  com 
menced  a  bombardment  of  Fort  St.  Philip,  which  was 
continued  till  the  i/th.  This,  however,  was  merely  in 
tended  to  cover  the  retreat  of  the  army,  which  took 
place  on  January  16,  under  the  direction  of  General 
Lambert.  The  loss  of  the  British  had  been  at  least 
2000  in  killed,  wounded,  and  captured.  Jackson  lost 
only  the  incredibly  small  number  of  seven  killed  and 
six  wounded. 

At  about  the  same  period  Cockburn  was  sailing  along 
the  coasts  of  Carolina  and  Georgia,  and  menacing 
Charleston  and  Savannah  with  destruction.  Fort  Mo 
bile  was  taken  by  the  army  which  had  retreated  from 
New  Orleans,  and  on  the  i6th  of  January  an  American 
frigate,  the  President,  was  captured  by  the  English  ship 
Rndymion;  but  these  small  successes  did  little  to 
counterbalance  the  great  reverse  before  the  capital 
of  Louisiana.  Several  British  ships  were  taken,  and 
in  the  early  days  of  1815  the  position  of  the  British  in 
America  was  not  at  all  favorable  from  a  military  point  of 
view. 

While  we  were  rejoicing  over  the  victory  at  New 
Orleans,  news  arrived  that  terms  of  peace  had  been 
settled  even  before  that  action  took  place.  The  treaty 
had  been  signed  on  December  24,  1814,  and  ratified 
by  the  Prince  Regent  on  the  2/th.  It  was  received  in 


208  THE  BATTLES  OF  AMERICA. 

the  United  States  on  February  II,  1815,  and  ratified  on 
the  I7th  by  the  President  and  Senate.  The  treaty  stipu 
lated  that  all  places  and  possessions  taken  during  the 
war,  or  which  might  be  taken  after  the  instrument  was 
signed,  should  be  mutually  restored ;  that  all  captures 
at  sea  should  be  relinquished,  if  made  within  specified 
times ;  and  that  each  party  should  put  a  stop  to  Indian 
hostilities,  and  endeavor  to  extinguish  the  traffic  in 
slaves.  Provision  was  made  for  settling  the  boundaries 
between  the  United  States  and  Canada,  which  had  been 
left  in  a  very  uncertain  condition  by  the  treaty  of  1/83. 
But  the  main  objects  of  the  war  were  entirely  passed 
over.  The  British  claim  to  search  American  ships, 
and  take  from  them  seamen  who  were  supposed  to  be 
British  subjects — by  far  the  most  important  ground  of 
quarrel — was  not  given  up.  As  the  war  between  Eng 
land  and  France  was  then  concluded  (though  it  broke  out 
again  shortly  afterwards  for  a  few  months),  it  appears 
to  have  been  thought  that  this  delicate  question  might 
be  passed  over  in  silence. 

The  rejoicing  over  the  restoration  of  peace  was  uni 
versal  and  enthusiastic.  The  country  had  gained  im 
mensely  in  naval  and  military  reputation ;  but  its  suffer 
ings  had  been  terrible.  The  loss  of  life  and  property, 
the  disturbance  of  material  interests,  had  all  been  on  a 
very  large  scale.  The  loss  of  life  had  been  estimated 
at  30,000  persons ;  but  these  calculations  are  conjectured 
and  thought  to  be  greatly  understated.  Our  progress 
had  been  thrown  back  for  years  by  this  disastrous  strug 
gle;  and  the  feeling  of  friendship  between  the  two 
great  divisions  of  the  English  race,  which  was  begin 
ning  to  recover  slightly  from  the  War  of  Independence, 
was  again  dashed  to  the  earth  by  bitter  and  exasperating 
memories. 


CHAPTER  XI. 
SEA  BATTLES  OF  1812-1815. 

THE  exploits  of  the  American  Navy  began  with  the 
escape  of  the  Frigate  Constitution  from  an  English  squad 
ron.  On  July  12,  1812,  the  Constitution^  completely 
equipped  and  well  manned,  left  the  Chesapeake,  bound 
to  New  York.  On  the  i6th  she  saw  a  frigate  and  gave 
chase,  with  winds  too  light  to  reach  her.  On  the  i/th, 
she  discovered  the  British  squadron,  consisting  of  the 
Africa,  64  guns,  and  Guerriere,  Shannon,  Belvidera  and 
sEolus,  frigates,  a  brig  and  a  schooner ;  the  Belvidera 
within  gun-shot.  The  i/th  was  calm  and  spent  in 
towing,  manceuvering  and  firing.  On  the  morning  of 
the  1 8th  a  light  breeze  sprung  up,  when  the  Constitu 
tion  spread  all  her  canvas,  and  by  outsailing  the  enemy, 
escaped  a  conflict,  which  she  could  not  have  maintained 
with  any  hope  of  success,  against  a  force  so  greatly 
superior.  The  chase  was  continued  for  60  hours, 
during  which  the  whole  crew  remained  at  their  stations. 

A  gentleman,  belonging  to  a  captured  vessel,  who 
was  on  board  the  Shannon,  reported  that  all  the  officers 
of  the  British  squadron  applauded  the  conduct  of  Capt. 
Hull;  and  though  mortified  at  losing  so  fine  a  ship, 
gave  him  much  credit  for  his  skill  and  prudence  in 
managing  the  frigate. 

Soon  after  the  escape  of  the  Constitution,  the  U.  S. 
brig  Nautilus,  12  guns,  commanded  by  Lieut.  Crane, 
was  captured  by  the  squadron.  Crane  "did  everything 

(209) 


2io  THE  BATTLES    OF  AMERICA. 

to  prevent  the  capture  that  a  skilful  and  experienced 
officer  could  do." 

CONSTITUTION  AND  GUERRIERE  (August  19,  1812). — 
At  one  p.  M.,  on  August  19,  a  sail  was  discovered,  but 
at  such  a  distance  we  could  not  tell  what  she  was.  All 
sail  was  instantly  made  in  chase,  and  soon  found  we 
came  up  with  her.  At  3  P.  M.  could  plainly  see  that 
she  was  a  ship  on  the  starboard  tack  under  easy  sail,  close 
on  a  wind  ;  at  half-past  3  made  her  out  to  be  a  frigate;  con 
tinued  the  chase  until  we  were  within  about  three  miles, 
when  I  ordered  the  light  sails  to  be  taken  in,  the  courses 
hauled  up,  and  the  ship  cleared  for  action.  At  this  time 
the  chase  had  backed  his  main-top  sail,  waiting  for  us  to 
come  down.  As  soon  as  the  Constitution  was  ready  for 
action  I  bore  down  with  the  intention  to  bring  him  to 
close  action  immediately;  but  on  our  coming  within 
gun-shot  she  gave  us  a  broadside  and  filled  away,  and 
wore,  giving  us  a  broadside  on  the  other  tack,  but  with 
out  effect,  her  shot  falling  short.  She  continued  wear 
ing  and  manceuvering  for  about  three-quarters  of  an 
hour,  to  get  a  raking  position,  but  finding  she  could  not, 
she  bore  up,  and  run  under  her  top-sails  and  gib,  with 
the  wind  on  her  quarter.  I  immediately  made  sail  to 
bring  the  ship  up  with  her,  and  five  minutes  before  6, 
being  alongside  within  half  pistol-shot,  we  commenced 
a  heavy  fire  from  all  our  guns,  double  shotted  with 
round  and  grape,  and  so  well  directed  were  they,  and 
so  warmly  kept  up,  that  in  fifteen  minutes  his  mizzen 
mast  went  by  the  board  and  his  main  yard  in  the  slings 
and  the  hull,  rigging  and  sails  very  much  torn  to 
pieces.  The  fire  was  kept  up  with  equal  warmth  for 
fifteen  minutes  longer,  when  his  main-mast  and  foremast 
went,  taking  with  them  every  spar,  excepting  the  bow 
sprit.  On  seeing  this  we  ceased  firing,  so  that  in 
30  minutes  after  we  got  fairly  alongside  the  enemy 


THE  "CONSTITUTION"  AND  THE  "GUERRIERE." 

Independence — 1 4 


211 


2 1 2  THE  BA  TTL  ES   OF  AMERICA. 

she  surrendered,  and  had  not  a  spar  standing,  and  her 
hull  below  and  above  water  so  shattered  that  a  few 
more  broadsides  must  have  carried  her  down. 

After  informing  you  that  so  fine  a  ship  as  the  Guerriere, 
commanded  by  an  able  and  experienced  officer,  had 
been  totally  dismasted,  and  otherwise  cut  to  pieces  so 
as  to  make  her  not  worth  towing  into  port,  in  the  short 
space  of  thirty  minutes,  you  can  have  no  doubt  of 
the  gallantry  and  good  conduct  of  the  officers  and 
ship's  company.  They  all  fought  with  great  bravery, 
and  it  gives  me  great  pleasure  to  say,  that  from  the 
smallest  boy  in  the  ship  to  the  oldest  seaman,  not  a 
look  of  fear  was  seen.  They  all  went  into  action,  giving 
three  cheers,  and  requested  to  be  laid  close  alongside 
the  enemy. — ISAAC  HULL. 

The  Constitution  lost  seven  killed  and  seven  wounded. 
The  Guerricre  lost  15  men  killed  and  64  wounded. 
Among  the  latter  were  Captain  Dacres,  and  the  master, 
and  master's  mate.  The  Gucrricre  carried  45  guns, 
and  was  manned  with  302  men. 

After  the  action  the  Constitution  returned  to  Boston, 
carrying  with  her  the  intelligence  of  her  triumph. 
At  this  distant  day  it  is  not  easy  to  convey  a  correct 
idea  of  the  deep  impression,  which  the  capture  of  this 
frigate  produced  both  in  Europe  and  America.  The  con 
stant  success  with  which  the  naval  flag  of  Great  Britain 
had  been  accompanied,  filled  the  people  of  America 
with  anxiety,  and  those  of  Great  Britain  with  overbear 
ing  insolence.  Captain  Dacres  himself  had,  a  short 
time  before,  issued  an  insolent  challenge  to  Commodore 
Rodgers  and  the  President,  or  any  other  ship  of  her 
class,  little  supposing  that  he  would  so  soon  receive  the 
punishment  which  he  merited.  The  U.  S.  Congress 
voted  its  thanks  and  $50,000  dollars  in  lieu  of  prize 
money ;  and  the  heroes  of  the  action  were  received  with 
open  arms  wherever  they  went. 


SEA   BATTLES   OF  1812-1815. 

THE  WASP  AND  THE  FROLIC  (October  18,  1812).— 
The  United  States  sloop-of-war,  the  Wasp,  commanded 
by  Captain  Jacob  Jones,  was  cruising  in  the  track  of  ves 
sels  passing  from  Bermuda  to  Halifax,  when,  on  Octo 
ber  17,  about  eleven  o'clock,  in  a  clear  moonlight 
evening,  she  found  herself  near  five  strange  sail,  steering 
eastward.  As  some  of  them  seemed  to  be  ships  of  war, 
it  was  thought  best  to  get  farther  from  them.  The 
Wasp,  therefore,  haled  her  wind,  and  having  reached  a 
few  miles  to  windward,  so  as  to  escape  or  fight  as  the 
occasion  might  require,  followed  the  strange  sail  through 
the  night.  At  daybreak  on  Sunday  morning,  Captain 
Jones  found  that  they  were  six  large  merchant  ships, 
under  convoy  of  a  sloop-of-war,  which  proved  to  be  the 
Frolic,  Captain  Whinyates,  from  Honduras  to  England, 
with  a  convoy,  strongly  armed  and  manned,  having  in  all 
about  50  men,  and  two  of  them  mounting  sixteen  guns 
each.  He  determined,  however,  to  attack  them,  and  as 
there  was  a  heavy  swell  of  the  sea,  and  the  weather  bois 
terous,  got  down  his  top-gallant  yards,  close-reefed  the 
topsails,  and  prepared  for  action.  About  eleven  o'clock 
the  Frolic  showed  Spanish  colors  ;  and  the  Wasp  imme 
diately  displayed  the  American  ensign  and  pendant.  At 
half-past  eleven  the  Wasp  came  down  to  windward,  on 
her  larboard  side,  within  about  sixty  yards,  and  hailed. 
The  enemy  hauled  down  the  Spanish  colors,  hoisted  the 
British  ensign,  and  opened  a  fire  of  cannon  and  mus 
ketry.  This  the  Wasp  instantly  returned  ;  and,  coming 
nearer  to  the  enemy,  the  action  became  close,  and  with 
out  intermission.  In  four  or  five  minutes  the  main  top 
mast  of  the  Wasp  was  shot  away,  and,  falling  down  with 
the  main  topsail  yard  across  the  larboard,  fore  and  fore- 
topsail  braces,  rendered  her  head  yards  unmanageable 
during  the  rest  of  the  action.  In  two  or  three  minutes 
more  her  gaff  and  mizzen  top-gallant  were  shot  away. 
Still  she  continued  a  close  and  constant  fire.  The  sea 


THE   BATTLES   OF  AMERICA. 

was  so  rough  that  the  muzzles  of  the  Wasp's  guns  were 
frequently  in  the  water.  We  fired  as  the  ship's  side  was 
going  down,  so  that  the  shot  went  either  on  the  ene 
my's  deck  or  below  it,  while  the  British  fired  as  the 
vessel  rose,  and  thus  her  balls  chiefly  touched  the  rig 
ging  or  were  thrown  away.  The  Wasp  now  shot  ahead 
of  the  Frolic,  raked  her,  and  then  resumed  her  position 
on  her  larboard  bow.  Her  fire  was  now  obviously  at 
tended  with  such  success,  and  that  of  the  Frolic  so 
slackened,  that  Captain  Jones  did  not  wish  to  board  her, 
lest  the  roughness  of  the  sea  might  endanger  both  ves 
sels ;  but,  in  the  course  of  a  few  minutes  more,  every 
brace  of  the  Wasp  was  shot  away,  and  her  rigging  so 
much  torn  to  pieces,  that  he  was  afraid  that  his  masts, 
being  unsupported,  would  go  by  the  board,  and  the 
Frolic  be  able  to  escape,  He  thought,  therefore,  the 
best  chance  of  securing  her  was  to  board,  and  decide 
the  contest  at  once.  With  this  view,  he  wore  ship,  and, 
running  down  upon  the  enemy,  the  vessels  struck  each 
other,  the  Wasp's  side  rubbing  along  the  Frolic s  bow, 
so  that  her  jib-boom  came  in  between  the  main  and 
mizzen-rigging  of  the  Wasp,  directly  over  the  heads  of 
Captain  Jones  and  Lieutenant  Biddle,  who  were  at  that 
moment  standing  together  near  the  capstan.  The  Frolic 
lay  so  fair  for  raking,  that  they  decided  not  to  board 
until  they  had  given  a  closing  broadside.  While  they 
were  loading  for  this,  so  near  were  the  two  vessels  that 
the  rammers  of  the  Wasp  were  pushed  against  the 
Frolic's  sides,  and  two  of  her  guns  went  through  the  bow- 
ports  of  the  Frolic,  and  swept  the  whole  length  of  her 
deck.  At  this  moment,  Jack  Lang,  a  seaman  of  the 
Wasp,  a  gallant  fellow,  who  had  been  once  impressed 
by  a  British  man-of-war,  jumped  on  his  gun  with  his 
cutlass,  and  was  springing  on  board  the  Frolic.  Jones, 
wishing  to  fire  again  before  boarding,  called  him  down  ; 
but  his  impetuosity  could  not  be  restrained,  and  he  was 


SEA   BATTLES   OF  1812-1815. 


215 


already  on  the  bowsprit  of  the  Frolic,  when,  seeing 
the  ardor  and  enthusiasm  of  the  Wasp's  crew,  Lieut. 
Biddle  mounted  on  the  hammock  cloth  to  board.  At 
this  signal  the  crew  followed ;  but  Lieut.  Biddle's  feet 
got  entangled  in  the  rigging  of  the  enemy's  bowsprit, 
and  Midshipman  Baker,  in  his  ardor  to  get  on  board, 
laying  hold  of  his  coat,  he  fell  back  on  the  Wasp's 
deck.  He  sprang  up,  and  as  the  next  swell  of  the 
sea  brought  the  Frolic  nearer,  he  got  on  her  bowsprit, 
where  Lang  and  another  seaman  were  already.  He 
passed  on  to  the  forecastle,  and  was  surprised  at  seeing 
not  a  single  man  alive  on  the  Frolic's  deck,  except  the 
seaman  at  the  wheel  and  three  officers.  The  deck  was 
slippery  with  blood  and  strewn  with  the  bodies  of  the 
dead.  As  he  went  forward  the  Captain  of  Frolic, 
with  two  other  officers,  who  were  standing  on  the 
quarter  deck,  threw  down  their  swords,  and  made  an 
inclination  of  their  bodies,  denoting  that  they  had 
surrendered.  At  this  moment  the  colors  were  still 
flying,  as  probably  none  of  the  seamen  of  the  Frolic 
would  dare  go  into  the  rigging  for  fear  of  the  musketry 
of  the  Wasp.  Lieut.  Biddle  therefore  jumped  into  the 
rigging  himself,  and  hauled  down  the  British  ensign, 
and  possession  was  taken  of  the  Frolic  in  forty-three 
minutes  after  the  first  fire.  She  was  in  a  shocking  con 
dition  ;  the  berth  deck  particularly  was  crowded  with 
dead,  and  wounded,  and  dying  ;  there  being  but  a  small 
proportion  of  the  Frolic  s  crew  who  had  escaped. 
Captain  Jones  instantly  sent  on  board  his  surgeon's 
mate,  and  all  the  blankets  of  the  Frolic  were  brought  • 
for  the  comfort  of  the  wounded.  To  increase  this 
confusion,  both  the  Frolic's  masts  soon  fell,  covering1 

O 

the  dead   and  everything  on  deck,  and  she  lay  a  com 
plete  wreck. 

The    Frolic   mounted  sixteen    32-pound    carronades, 
four  12-pounders  on  the  main  deck,  and  two  12-pounj 


2i6  THE  BATTLES  OF  AMERICA. 

carronades.  She  was,  therefore,  superior  to  the  Wasp 
by  exactly  four  12-pounders.  The  number  of  men 
on  board,  as  stated  by  the  officers  of  the  Frolic 
was  no — the  number  of  seamen  on  board  the  Wasp 
was  1 02  ;  but  it  could  not  be  ascertained  whether  in  this 
HO  were  included  mariners  and  officers;  for  the  Wasp 
had, besides  her  102  men,  officers  and  marines;  making 
the  whole  crew  about  135.  What,  however,  is  decisive 
as  to  their  comparative  force  is,  that  the  officers  of 
the  Frolic  acknowledged  that  they  had  as  many  men  as 
they  knew  what  to  do  with,  and,  in  fact,  the  Wasp  could 
have  spared  fifteen  men.  There  was,  therefore,  on  the 
most  favorable  view,  at  least  an  equality  of  men,  and 
an  inequality  of  four  guns.  The  disparity  of  loss  was 
much  greater.  The  exact  number  of  killed  and 
wounded  on  board  the  Frolic  could  not  be  precisely  de 
termined  ;  but  from  the  observations  of  our  officers, 
and  the  declarations  of  those  of  the  Frolic,  the  num 
ber  could  not  be  less  than  about  30  killed,  including 
two  officers ;  and  of  the  wounded,  between  40  and  50, 
the  captain  and  second  lieutenant  being  of  the  number. 
The  Wasp  had  five  men  killed  and  five  wounded. 

All  hands  were  now  employed  in  clearing  the  deck, 
burying  the  dead,  and  taking  care  of  the  wounded, 
when  Captain  Jones  sent  orders  to  Lieutenant  Biddle 
to  proceed  to  Charleston,  or  any  other  southern  port  of 
the  United  States ;  and,  as  there  was  a  suspicious  sail 
to  windward,  the  Wasp  would  continue  her  cruise. 
The  ships  then  parted.  The  suspicious  sail  was  now 
coming  down  very  fast.  At  first  it  was  supposed  that 
she  was  one  of  the  convoy,  who  had  all  fled  during 
the  engagement,  and  who  now  came  for  the  purpose  of 
attacking  the  prize.  The  guns  of  the  Frolic  were, 
therefore,  loaded  and  the  ship  cleared  for  action;  but 
the  enemy,  as  she  advanced,  proved  to  be  a  seventy- 
four,  the  Poictiers,  Captain  Beresford.  She  fired  a  shot 


THE  3ATTLES  OF  AMERICA. 

over  the  Frolic ;  passed  her;  overtook  the  Wasp,  the 
disabled  state  of  whose  rigging  prevented  her  from  es 
caping  ;  and  then  returned  to  the  Frolic,  who  could,  of 
course,  make  no  resistance.  The  Wasp  and  Frolic  were 
carried  as  prizes  into  Bermuda. 

THE  UNITED  STATES  AND  THE  MACEDONIAN  (October 
25, 1812). — Being  in  latitude  29°  N.  longitude, 29°  30' W., 
on  October  25,  we  fell  in  with,  and  after  an  action  of  an 
hour  and  a  half,  captured  His  Majesty's  ship  Macedonian, 
commanded  by  Captain  John  Garden,  and  mounting  49 
carriage  guns  (the  odd  gun  shifting).  She  is  a  frigate 
of  the  largest  class,  and  reputed  one  of  the  best  sailers 
in  the  British  service.  The  enemy,  being  to  windward, 
had  the  advantage  of  engaging  us  at  his  own  distance, 
which  was  so  great,  that  for  the  first  half  hour,  we  did 
not  use  our  carronades,  and  at  no  moment  was  he  within 
the  complete  effect  of  our  musketry  and  grape;  to  this 
circumstance,  and  a  heavy  swell,  which  was  on  at  the 
time,  I  ascribe  the  unusual  length  of  the  action. 

The  enthusiasm  of  every  officer,  seaman  and  marine 
on  board  this  ship,  on  discovering  the  enemy — their 
steady  conduct  in  battle,  and  precision  of  their  fire, 
could  not  be  surpassed. 

We  had  but  five  killed  and  seven  wounded. 

On  board  the  Macedonian,  there  were  36  killed,  and 
68  wounded. 

The  Macedonian  lost  her  mizzen  mast,  fore  and  main 
top-masts  and  main  yard,  and  was  much  cut  up  in  her  hull. 
The  damage  sustained  by  this  ship  was  not  such  as  to  ren 
der  her  return  into  port  necessary;  and  had  I  not  deemed 
it  important  that  we  should  see  our  prize  in,  should  have 
continued  our  cruise. — STEPHEN  DECATUR. 

THE  CONSTITUTION  AND  THE  JAVA  (December  29, 
1 8 1 2). — On  December  29,  1 8 1 2,  at  2  P.  M-.,  when  about  10 


SEA   BATTLES   OF  1812-1815.  2IQ 

leagues  distant  from  the  coast  of  Brazil,  I  fell  in  with 
and  captured  the  British  frigate  Java,  of  49  guns  and 
upwards  of  400  men,  commanded  by  Captain  Lambert. 
The  action  lasted  one  hour  and  55  minutes,  in  which 
time  the  enemy  was  completely  dismasted,  not  having 
a  spar  of  any  kind  standing.  The  loss  on  board  the 
Constitution,  was  nine  killed  and  25  wounded.  The 
enemy  had  60  killed  and  101  wounded  (among  the 
latter  Captain  Lambert,  mortally). 

The  Java  had,  in  addition  to  her  own  crew,  upwards 
of  IOO  officers  and  seamen  to  join  the  British  ships  of 
war  in  the  East  Indies;  also  General  Hislop,  appointed 
to  the  command  of  Bombay;  and  Captain  Marshall, 
master  and  commander  in  the  British  navy,  going  to  the 
East  Indies  to  take  command  of  a  sloop-of-war  there. 

The  great  distance  from  our  own  coast  and  the  perfect 
wreck  we  made  of  the  enemy's  frigate,  forbade  every  idea 
of  attempting  to  take  her  to  the  United  States;  I  had 
therefore  no  alternative  but  burning  her,  which  I  did 
after  receiving  all  the  prisoners  and  their  baggage,  which 
was  very  hard  work,  only  having  one  boat  left  out  of 
eight,  and  not  one  left  on  board  the  Java. 

On  blowing  up  the  frigate  Java,  I  proceeded  to  this 
place,  where  I  have  landed  all  the  prisoners  on  their 
parole  to  return  to  England,  and  there  remain  until 
regularly  exchanged,  and  not  to  serve  in  their  pro 
fessional  capacities  in  anyplace,  or  in  any  manner  what 
soever  against  the  United  States  of  America,  until  their 
exchange  shall  be  effected. — VV.  BAINBRIDGE. 

THE  HORNET  AND  THE  PEACOCK  (February  24,  1813). 
— After  Commodore  Bainbridge  left  the  coast  of  Brazil, 
(Jan.  6),  I  continued  off  the  harbor  of  St.  Salvador, 
blockading  the  Bonne  Citoyeniic,  until  the  24th,  when 
the  Montague,  74,  hove  in  sight,  and  chased  me  into  the 
harbor;  but  night  coming  on,  I  wore  and  stood  out  to 


220  THE   BATTLES   OF  AMERICA. 

the  southward.  Knowing  that  she  had  left  Rio  Janeiro 
for  the  express  purpose  of  relieving  the  Bonne  Citoyenne 
and  the  packet  (which  I  had  also  blockaded  for  14 
days),  I  judged  it  prudent  to  shift  my  cruising-ground, 
and  hauled  by  the  wind  to  the  eastward,  with  the  view 
of  cruising  off  Pernambuco,  .'.nd  on  February  4  cap 
tured  the  English  brig  Resolution,  of  10  guns,  from  Rio 
Janeiro,  with  coffee,  jerked  beef,  ^our,  fustic,  and  butter, 
and  about  23,000  dollars  in  specu .  As  she  sailed  dull 
and  I  could  not  spare  hands  to  man  her,  I  took  out  the 
money  and  set  her  on  fire.  I  ran  down  the  coast,  and 
cruised  there  a  short  time:  from  thence  ran  off  Surinam. 
After  cruising  off  that  coast  from  the  I5th  to  the  22d 
of  February  without  meeting  a  vessel,  I  stood  for 
Demerara,  with  an  intention,  should  I  be  fortunate  on 
that  station,  to  run  through  the  West  Indies,  on  my 
way  to  the  United  States.  But,  on  the  24th  in  the 
morning,  I  discovered  a  brig  to  the  leeward,  to  which  I 
gave  chase;  ran  into  quarter  less  four,  and  not  having  a 
pilot,  was  obliged  to  haul  off,  the  fort  at  the  entrance  of 
Demerara  River  at  this  time  bearing  S.  W.,  distant  about 
two  and  a  half  leagues.  Previous  to  giving  up  the 
chase,  I  discovered  a  vessel  at  anchor  without  the  bar, 
with  English  colors  flying,  apparently  a  brig-of-war. 
In  beating  round,  in  order  to  get  at  her,  at  half-past  3, 
discovered  another  sail  on  our  weather  quarter,  edging 
down  for  us.  At  20  minutes  past  4,  she  hoisted 
English  colors,  at  which  time  we  discovered  her  to  be 
a  large  man-of-war  brig — beat  to  quarters,  cleared  ship 
for  action,  and  kept  close  by  the  wind,  in  order,  if  possi 
ble,  to  get  the  weather  gage.  At  10  minutes  past  5, 
finding  I  could  weather  the  enemy,  I  hoisted  American 
colors  and  tacked.  At  25  minutes  past  5,  in  passing 
each  other,  exchanged  broadsides  within  half  pistol- 
shot.  Observing  the  enemy  in  the  act  of  wearing,  I 
bore  up,  received  his  starboard  broadside,  ran  him  close 


WILLIAM    BAINBRIDGE. 


221 


222  TIf£  BATTLES  OF  AMERICA. 

on  board  the  starboard  quarter,  and  kept  up  such  a 
i'eavy  and  well-directed  fire,  that  in  less  than  15  minutes 
he  surrendered,  being  literally  cut  to  pieces,  and  hoisted 
his  ensign,  union  down,  from  his  fore-rigging,  as  a  signal 
of  distress.  Shortly  after,  his  mainmast  went  by  the 
board.  Despatched  Lieutenant  Shubrick  on  board,  who 
reported  her  to  be  His  Majesty's  brig  Peacock,  com 
manded  by  Captain  William  Peake,  who  fell  in  the  latter 
part  of  the  action;  that  a  number  of  her  crew  were 
killed  and  wounded,  and  that  she  was  sinking  fast, 
having  then  six  feet  of  water  in  her  hold.  Despatched 
the  boats  immediately  for  the  wounded,  and  brought 
both  vessels  to  anchor.  Such  shot-holes  as  could  be 
got  at  were  then  plugged  up:  her  guns  thrown  over 
board,  and  every  possible  exertion  used  to  keep  her 
afloat  until  the  prisoners  could  be  removed,  by  pumping 
and  bailing,  but  without  effect,  as  she  unfortunately 
sunk  in  5^  fathoms  of  water,  carrying  down  13  of  her 
crew,  and  three  of  my  brave  fellows.  Four  men,  of  the 
13  mentioned,  were  so  fortunate  as  to  gain  the  foretop, 
and  were  afterwards  taken  off  by  the  boats.  Previous 
to  her  going  down,  four  of  her  men  took  the  stern 
boat,  that  had  been  much  damaged  during  the  action, 
who,  I  sincerely  hope,  reached  the  shore  in  safety.  I 
have  not  been  able  to  ascertain  from  her  officers  the 
exact  number  killed.  Captain  Peake  and  four  men  were 
found  dead  on  board.  The  master,  and  one  midship 
man,  carpenter  and  captain's  clerk,  and  29  seamen  were 
wounded;  most  of  them  severely,  three  of  them  died  of 
their  wounds  after  being  removed,  and  nine  drowned. 
Our  loss  was  trifling  in  comparison.  John  Place, 
killed;  Samuel  Coulson,  and  John  Delyrumple,  severely 
wounded;  George  Coffin  and  Lewis  Todd,  severely  burnt 
by  the  explosion  of  a  cartridge.  Our  rigging  and  sails 
are  much  cut.  One  shot  through  the  foremast;  and 
the  bowsprit  slightly  injured.  Our  hull  received  little 


SEA   BATTLES   OF  1812-1815. 

or  no  damage.  At  the  time  I  brought  the  Peacock  to 
action,  the  UEspiegle  (the  brig  mentioned  as  being  at 
anchor)  mounting  sixteen  32-pound  carronades  and  two 
long  nines,  lay  about  six  miles  in  shore  of  me,  and 
could  plainly  see  the  whole  of  the  action.  Apprehen 
sive  that  she  would  beat  out  to  the  assistance  of  her 
consort,  such  exertions  were  made  by  my  officers  and 
crew  repairing  damages,  &c.,  that  by  nine  o'clock  my 
boats  were  stowed  away,  new  set  of  sails  bent,  and  the 
ship  completely  ready  for  action.  At  2  A.  M.  got  under 
way  and  stood  by  the  wind  to  the  northward  and  west 
ward,  under  easy  sail. 

On  mustering  next  morning,  found  we  had  277  souls 
on  board,  including  the  crew  of  the  American  brig 
Hunter,  of  Portland,  taken  a  few  days  since  by  the 
Peacock.  As  we  had  been  on  two-thirds  allowance  of 
provisions  for  some  time,  and  had  but  3400  gallons  of 
water  on  board,  I  reduced  the  allowance  to  three  pints 
a  man,  and  determined  to  make  the  best  of  my  way  to 
the  United  States. 

The  Peacock  was  deservedly  styled  one  of  the  finest 
vessels  of  her  class  in  the  British  Navy.  I  should 
judge  her  to  be  about  the  tonnage  of  the  Hornet.  She 
mounted  sixteen  24-pound  carronades,  two  long  nines, 
one  12-pourrd  carronade  on  her  top-gallant  forecastle,  as 
a  shifting  gun,  and  one  4  or  6  pounder,  and  two  swivels 
mounted  aft.  I  find  that  her  crew  consisted  of  134  men, 
four  of  whom  were  absent  in  a  prize. 

The  cool  and  determined  conduct  of  my  officers  and 
crew  during  the  action,  and  their  almost  unexampled 
exertions  afterwards,  entitle  them  to  my  warmest  ac 
knowledgments. — JAMES  LAWRENCE. 

THE  CHESAPEAKE  AND  THE  SHANNON  (June  I,  1813). 
— In  consequence  of  Captain  Lawrence's  gallant  victory 
over  the  Peacock  he  was  promoted  to  the  command  of 


224 


THE  BATTLES    OF  AMERICA. 


the  frigate  Clicsapeake,  then  lying  in  the  Boston  harbor. 
The  British  frigate  Shannon,  commanded  by  Captain 
Brooke,  had  been  cruising  before  that  port  for  several 
weeks,  and  Brooke  sent  a  challenge  to  Lawrence  to 
meet  him  ship  to  ship,  and  thus  determine  the  relative 
value  of  the  two  vessels,  Brooke  was  a  gallant  and 
careful  officer.  He  had  long  paid  great  attention  to 
the  discipline  and  exercise  of  his  crew,  and  felt  he 
could  depend  on  them.  In  Captain  Lawrence  and  the 
Chesapeake  he  had  a  skilful  and  daring  opponent. 
The  Chesapeake  was  a  little  superior  in  size  to  the 
Shannon^  and  had  a  larger  complement  of  men  ;  but  the 
crew  were  not  well  trained. 

On  June  I,  the  two  vessels  met,  and  instantly  engaged. 
About  15  minutes  before  6  p.  M.  the  action  commenced 
within  pistol-shot.  The  first  broadside  did  great  execu 
tion  on  both  sides,  damaged  our  rigging,  killed  among 
others  Mr.  White,  the  sailing-master,  and  wounded 
Captain  Lawrence.  In  about  12  minutes  after  the  com 
mencement  of  the  action  we  fell  on  board  of  the 
enemy,  and  immediately  after,  one  of  our  arm-chests  on 
the  quarter  deck  was  blown  up  by  a  hand-grenade, 
thrown  from  the  enemy's  ship.  In  a  few  minutes  one 
of  the  captain's  aids  came  on  the  gun  deck  to  inform 
me  that  the  boarders  were  called.  I  immediately  called 
the  boarders  away,  and  proceeded  to  the  spar  deck, 
where  I  found  that  the  enemy  had  succeeded  in 
boarding  us,  and  had  gained  possession  of  our  quarter 
deck.  I  immediately  gave  orders  to  haul  on  board  the 
foretack,  for  the  purpose  of  shooting  the  ship  clear  of 
the  other,  and  made  an  attempt  to  regain  the  quarter 
deck,  but  was  wounded,  and  thrown  down  on  the  gun 
deck.  I  again  made  an  effort  to  collect  the  boarders, 
but  in  the  meantime  the  enemy  had  gained  complete 
possession  of  the  ship.  On  my  being  carried  down  to  the 
cockpit,  I  there  found  Captain  Lawrence  and  Lieutenant 


SEA   BATTLES   OF  18 12-1815.  22$ 

Ludlovv  both  mortally  wounded  ;  the  former  had  been 
carried  below  previously  to  the  ship's  being  boarded  ; 
the  latter  was  wounded  in  attempting  to  repel  the 
boarders. — LIEUT.  GEORGE  BUDD. 

In  the  brief  space  of  time  during  which  the  battle  had 
raged  the  Chesapeake  had  48  killed,  and  98  wounded; 
the  Shannon,  23  killed  and  56  wounded.  Lawrence 
was  twice  wounded  early  in  the  action,  and  when  carried 
below  was  asked  if  the  colors  should  be  struck.  He 
replied,  "  No ;  they  shall  wave  while  I  live."  He  after 
wards  became  delirious  with  mental  and  bodily  suffer 
ing,  and  whenever  able  to  speak  during  the  remaining 
four  days  of  his  life,  would  exclaim,  "Don't  give  up  the 
ship!"  But  the  ship  was  already  in  the  hands  of  the 
enemy.  The  bodies  of  Lawrence  and  Ludlow  were  car 
ried  to  Halifax  and  there  buried  with  the  honors  of  war. 
Some  of  the  oldest  captains  of  the  British  Navy  carried 
the  pall  of  Lawrence,  and  it  was  universally  felt  that 
he  was  worthy  of  every  honor  that  could  be  paid  to  his 
memory.  The  corpse  was  shrouded  in  a  mahogany 
coffin,  and  was  received  at  the  King's  wharf  by  a  regi 
ment  of  troops  and  a  fuH  band  of  music.  When  vic 
torious  over  the  Peacock  he  had  behaved  with  so  much 
kindness  to  the  officers  and  crew,  that  the  former,  on  ar 
riving  at  New  York,  sent  him  a  letter  of  thanks.  Al 
though  his  mortal  remains  were  now  deposited  in 
alien  earth,  the  spirit  which  he  embodied  went  forth  as 
an  animating  influence  through  the  whole  mass  of  his 
countrymen,  and  his  dying  words,  "  Don't  give  up  the 
ship !  "  have  become  classical,  as  they  deserve  to  be,  in 
the  American  Navy. 

The  people  were  very  disheartened  at  this  unexpected 
calamity.  The  honors  and  rewards  bestowed  on  Cap 
tain  Brooke  showed  that  it  was  considered  a  very  great 
matter  to  vanquish  a  frigate  of  the  United  States. 


226  THE  BATTLES   OF  AMERICA. 

Shortly  after  the  fate  of  the  Chesapeake  and  her  brave 
defenders  was  known  in  the  United  States,  B.  W.  Crow- 
ninshield  solicited  the  government  for  permission  to  sail 
with  a  flag  of  truce  to  Halifax,  for  the  purpose  of  ob 
taining  the  entombed  bodies  of  Captain  Lawrence  and 
Lieutenant  Ludlow ;  the  permission  being  granted,  Mr. 
Growninshield  sailed  in  a  vessel  manned  by  himself  and 
ten  other  masters  of  vessels,  and  on  application  to  the 
British  admiral,  commanding  on  that  station,  obtained 
the  object  of  his  request.  On  their  arrival  at  Salem, 
Massachusetts,  the  funeral  obsequies  of  the  brave  de 
ceased  were  again  celebrated  in  the  most  solemn  and 
impressive  manner. 

The  Report  of  the  Naval  Committee  said  : 

The  court  are  of  opinion  that  the  Chesapeake  was 
gallantly  carried  into  action  by  her  late  brave  com 
mander;  and  no  doubt  rests  with  the  court  from  com 
parison  of  the  injury  respectively  sustained  by  the 
frigates,  that  the  fire  of  the  Chesapeake  was  much  supe 
rior  to  that  of  the  Shannon.  The  SJiannon  being  much 
cut  in  her  spars  and  rigging,  and  receiving  many  shot 
in  and  below  the  water  line,  was  reduced  almost  to  a 
sinking  condition,  after  only  a  few  minutes'  cannon 
ading  from  the  Chesapeake;  while  the  Chesapeake  was 
comparatively  uninjured.  And  the  court  have  no 
doubt,  if  the  Chesapeake  had  not  accidentally  fallen  on 
board  the  Shannon,  and  the  Shannon's  anchor  got  foul 
in  the  after  quarter  port  of  the  Chesapeake  t  the  Shannon 
must  have  very  soon  surrendered  or  sunk. 

It  appears  to  the  court,  that  as  the  ships  were  getting 
foul,  Captain  Lawrence  ordered  the  boarders  to  be 
called  ;  out  the  bugle  man,  stationed  to  call  the  board 
ers  by  sounding  a  bugle,  had  deserted  his  quarters,  and 
when  discovered  and  ordered  to  call,  was  unable,  from 
fright,  to  sound  his  horn;  that  midshipmen  went  below 
immediately  to  pass  the  word  for  the  boarders ;  but  not 


Independence — 1 5 


228  THE  BATTLES  OF  AMERICA. 

being  called  in  the  way  they  had  usually  exercised,  few 
came  upon  the  upper  deck ;  confusion  prevailed ;  a 
greater  part  of  the  men  deserted  their  quarters,  and  ran 
below.  It  appears  also  to  the  court,  that  when  the 
SJiannon  got  foul  of  the  Chesapeake ',  Captain  Lawrence, 
Lieutenant  Ludlow,  the  sailing  master,  and  lieutenant 
of  marines  were  all  killed  or  mortally  wounded,  and 
thereby  the  upper  deck  of  the  Chesapeake  was  left  with 
out  any  commanding  officer,  and  with  only  one  or  two 
young  midshipmen.  It  also  appears  to  the  court,  that 
previously  to  the  ships  getting  foul,  many  of  the  Chesa 
peake  s  spar  deck  division  had  been  killed  and  wounded, 
and  the  number  stationed  on  that  deck  thereby  con 
siderably  reduced  ;  that  these  being  left  without  a  com 
missioned  officer,  or  even  a  warrant  officer,  except  one 
or  two  inexperienced  midshipmen,  and  not  being  sup 
ported  by  the  boarders  from  the  gun  deck,  almost 
universally  deserted  their  quarters.  And  the  enemy, 
availing  himself  of  this  defenceless  state  of  the  Chesa 
peake  s  upper  deck,  boarded  and  obtained  possession  of 
the  ship  with  very  little  opposition. 

THE  ARGUS  AND  THE  PELICAN  (August  14,  1813). — 
Circumstances  prevented  my  attention  to  the  painful 
duty  which  devolved  on  me  by  the  death  of  my  gallant 
commander,  Captain  William  H.  Allen,  late  of  the  U.  S. 
brig  Argus.  After  capturing  23  vessels  of  various  sizes, 
and  some  of  great  value,  on  August  14,  1813,  we  dis 
covered  at  4  o'clock  A.  M.  a  large  brig-of-wur  standing 
down  under  a  press  of  sail  upon  our  weather  quarter, 
the  wind  being  at  south,  and  the  Argus  close  hauled 
on  the  starboard  tack :  we  prepared  to  receive  her; 
and  at  half-past  four,  being  unable  to  get  the  weather 
gage,  we  shortened  sail,  and  gave  her  an  opportunity  of 
closing.  At  6,  the  brig  having  displayed  English  colors, 
we  hoisted  our  flag;  wore  round,  and  gave  her  the  lar- 


SEA   BATTLES   OF  1812-1815.  229 

board  broadside  (being  at  this  time  within  grape  dis 
tance),  which  was  returned,  and  the  action  commenced 
within  the  range  of  musketry.  Shortly  after  six,  Cap 
tain  Allen  was  wounded,  and  the  enemy  shot  away  our 
main  braces,  main  spring-stay,  gaff,  and  trysail-mast 
Allen,  being  much  exhausted  by  the  loss  of  blood,  was 
taken  below.  At  6.12  lost  our  spritsai  1-yard  and  the 
principal  part  of  the  standing  rigging  on  the  larboard 
side  of  the  foremast.  At  this  time  I  received  a  wound 
on  the  head  from  a  grape  shot,  and  was  carried  below. 

Lieutenant  Allen,  who  succeeded  to  the  command, 
reports,  at  6. 1 4  the  enemy,  being  in  our  weather  quarter, 
edged  off,  for  the  purpose  of  getting  under  our  stern,  but 
the  Argus  luffed  close  to,  with  the  main  topsail  aback, 
and  giving  him  a  raking  broadside,  frustrated  his  at 
tempt.  The  enemy  shot  away  our  preventer,  main- 
braces  and  main-topsail-tye ;  and  the  Argus,  having  lost 
the  use  of  her  after  sails,  fell  on  before  the  wind,  when 
the  enemy  succeeded  in  passing  our  stern,  and  ranged 
on  the  starboard  side.  At  6.25  the  wheel  ropes  and 
running  rigging  of  every  description  being  shot  away, 
the  Argus  became  unmanageable;  and  the  enemy,  not 
having  sustained  any  apparent  damage,  had  it  com 
pletely  in  his  power  to  choose  a  position,  and  con 
tinued  to  play  upon  our  starboard  quarter,  occasion 
ally  shifting  his  situation,  until  6.30  when  I  returned 
to  the  deck,  the  enemy  being  under  our  stern,  within 
pistol  shot,  where  she  continued  to  rake  us  until  6.38, 
when  we  prepared  to  board,  but,  in  consequence  of 
our  shattered  condition,  were  unable  to  effect  it;  the 
enemy  then  passed  our  broadside,  and  took  a  position 
on  our  starboard  bow.  From  this  time  until  6.47  we 
were  exposed  to  a  cross  or  raking  fire,  without  being 
able  to  oppose  but  little  more  than  musketry  to  the 
broadside  of  the  enemy,  our  guns  being  much  disabled 
and  seldom  brought  to  bear. 


'30 


THE  BA  TTLES   OF  AMERICA. 


The  Argus  suffered  much,  in  hull  and  rigging,  as  also 
in  killed  and  wounded;  and  being  exposed  to  a  galling 
fire,  which  from  the  enemy's  ability  to  manage  his  vessel 
we  could  not  avoid,  I  deemed  it  necessary  to  surrender, 
and  was  taken  possession  of  by  the  British  sloop  Pelican, 
of  2 1  carnage  guns,  viz.,  sixteen  32-pound  carronades, 
four  long  6's,  and  one  1 2-pound  carronade.  I  hope  this 
measure  will  meet  your  approbation,  and  that  the  result 
of  this  action,  when  the  superior  size  and  metal  of  our 
upponent,  and  the  f^ltigue  which  the  crew,  &c.,  of  the 
Argus  underwent  from  a  very  rapid  succession  of  cap 
tures,  is  considered,  will  not  be  thought  unworthy  of 
the  flag  under  which  we  serve.  . 

LIEUT.  W.  H.  WATSON, 
Late  of  the  U.  S.  biig  Argus. 

The  Argus  lost  10  men,  beside  the  captain,  and  had 
II  wounded. 

THE  ENTERPRISE  AND  THE  BOXER  (September  5, 
1813). — On  the  5th,  in  the  bay  near  Penguin  Point,  dis 
covered  a  brig  getting  under  way,  which  appeared  to  be 
a  vessel  of  war,  and  to  which  we  immediately  gave  chase. 
She  fired  several  guns,  and  stood  for  us,  having  four 
ensigns  hoisted.  After  reconnoitering  and  discovering 
her  force,  and  the  nation  to  which  she  belonged,  we 
hauled  upon  a  wind,  to  stand  out  of  the  bay,  and  at 
3  o'clock  shortened  sail,  tacked  to  run  down,  with  an 
intention  to  bring  her  to  close  action.  A  3.20,  when 
within  half  pistol-shot,  the  firing  commenced  from  both, 
and  after  being  warmly  kept  up,  and  with  some  manceu- 
vering,  the  enemy  hailed,  and  said  they  had  surrendered, 
about  4  P.  M.  ;  their  colors  being  nailed  to  the  masts,  could 
not  be  hauled  down.  She  proved  to  be  the  British  brig 
Boxer,  of  14  guns,  Samuel  Blythe,  commander,  who  fell 
in  the  early  part  of  the  engagement  from  a  cannon-shot 
through  the  body,  Lieutenant  Burrows,  who  had  gal- 


SEA   BATTLES   OF  1812-1815. 


231 


lantly  led  us  into  action,  fell  also  about  the  same  time 
by  a  musket-ball. 

The  Enterprise  suffered  much  in  spars  and  rigging, 
and  the  Boxer  received  so  much  damage  in  her  hull, 
masts,  and  sails,  that  it  was  with  difficulty  she  could  be 
kept  afloat  to  get  her  in. 

There  were  between  2O  and  35  killed,  and  14  wounded 
on  the  Boxer.    Our  loss  was  4  killed,  and  1 3  wounded. 
EDWARD  R.  A.  CALL,  Senior  Officer. 

THE  BATTLE  OF  LAKE  ERIE  (September  10,  1813). 
Commodore  Perry  to  the  Secretary  of  the  U.  S.  Navy : 

U.  S.  Brig  Niagara,  off  the  Western  Sister, 

Lake  Erie,  Sept.  IO,  1813. 

SIR:  It  has  pleased  the  Almighty  to  give  to  the  arms 
of  the  United  States  a  signal  victory  over  their  enemies 
on  this  lake.  The  British  squadron,  consisting  of  two 
ships,  two  brigs,  one  schooner,  and  one  sloop,  have  this 
moment  surrendered  to  the  force  under  my  command, 
after  a  sharp  conflict. 

I  have  the  honor  to  be,  sir,  very  respectfully, 

Your  obedient  servant, 
Hon.  WILLIAM  JONES,  O.  H.  PERRY. 

Secy  of  tJie  Navy. 

Commodore  Perry  to  Major- General  Harrison : 

U.  S.  Brig  Niagara,  off  tJic  Western  Sister, 

Lake  Erie,  Sept.  10,  1813. 
DEAR  GENERAL, 

We  have  met  the  enemy;  and  they  are  ours!  two 
ships,  two  brigs,  one  schooner,  and  one  sloop. 

Yours  with  great  respect  and  esteem, 
Gen.  HARRISON.  O.  H.  PERRY. 


232 


THE   BATTLES   OF  AMERICA. 


On  the  morning  of  the  loth  instant,  at  sunrise,  the 
enemy's  fleet  were  discovered  from  Put-in-Bay,  where  I 
lay  at  anchor  with  the  squadron  under  my  command. 
We  got  under  way,  the  wind  light  and  stood  for  them. 
At  10  A.  M.  the  wind  hauled  to  S.  E.  and  brought  us  to 
windward:  formed  the  line  and  bore  up.  At  quarter  be 
fore  12,  the  enemy  commenced  firing  ;  at  five  minutes  be 
fore  1 2,  the  action  commenced  on  our  part.  Finding  their 
fire  very  destructive,  owing  to  their  long  guns,  and  its 
being  mostly  directed  at  the  Lawrence,  I  made  sail  and 
directed  the  other  vessels  to  follow  for  the  purpose  of 
closing  with  the  enemy.  Every  brace  and  bow-line 
being  shot  away,  she  became  unmanageable,  notwith 
standing  the  great  exertions  of  the  sailing  master.  In 
this  situation  she  sustained  the  action  upwards  of  two 
hours  within  cannister  distance,  until  every  gun  was 
rendered  useless,  and  the  greater  part  of  her  crew 
either  killed  or  wounded.  Finding  she  could  no  longer 

f5  O 

annoy  the  enemy,  I  left  her  in  charge  of  Lieutenant 
Yarnall,  who  I  was  convinced,  from  the  bravery  already 
displayed  by  him,  would  do  what  would  comport  with 
the  honor  of  the  flag.  At  half-past  two,  the  wind 
springing  up,  Captain  Elliott  was  enabled  to  bring  his 
vessel,  the  Niagara,  gallantly  into  close  action  :  I  im 
mediately  went  on  board  of  her,  when  he  anticipated 
my  wish  by  volunteering  to  bring  the  schooners  which 
had  been  kept  astern  by  the  lightness  of  the  wind,  into 
close  action.  It  was  with  unspeakable  pain,  that  I  saw, 
soon  after  I  got  on  board  the  Niagara,  the  flag  of  the 
Lawrence  come  down,  although  I  was  perfectly  sensible 
that  she  had  been  defended  to  the  last,  and  that  to  have 
continued  to  make  a  show  of  resistance  would  have 
been  a  wanton  sacrifice  of  the  remains  of  her  brave 
crew.  But  the  enemy  was  not  able  to  take  possession 
of  her,  and  circumstances  soon  permitted  her  flag  again 
to  be  hoisted. 


COMMODORE   OLIVER    HAZARD    TERRY, 


233 


234 


THE  BA  TTLES   OF  AMERICA. 


At  45  minutes  past  two,  the  signal  was  made  for 
"  close  action."  The  Niagara  being  very  little  injured, 
I  determined  to  pass  through  the  enemy's  line,  bore  up 
and  passed  ahead  of  their  two  ships  and  a  brig,  giving 
a  raking  fire  to  them  from  the  starboard  guns,  and  to 
a  large  schooner  and  sloop  from  the  larboard  side  at 
half  pistol-shot  distance.  The  smaller  vessels  at  this 
time  having  got  within  grape  and  cannister  distance, 
under  the  direction  of  Captain  Elliott,  and  keeping  up 
a  well-directed  fire,  the  two  ships,  a  brig  and  a  schooner, 
surrendered,  a  schooner  and  sloop  making  a  vain  at 
tempt  to  escape. 

Our  loss  in  killed  was  27,  and  we  had  96  wounded. 
Their  loss  was  not  accurately  ascertained,  but  it  must 
have  been  very  great.  The  exact  number  of  the  enemy's 
force  has  not  been  ascertained,  but  I  have  good  reason 
to  believe  that  it  exceeded  ours  by  nearly  100  men. 

O.  H.  PERRY. 

The  victory  of  Commodore  Perry  was  the  result  of 
skill,  courage,  and  enterprise,  against  superior  force. 
Both  the  quality  and  amount  of  the  force  he  had  to 
contend  with,  ought  to  have  given  a  triumph  to  the 
other  side ;  and  at  the  time  of  the  surrender,  the  odds 
were  increased  against  him,  since  his  own  ship,  after 
having  suffered  more  than  perhaps  a  vessel  of  the  same 
size  and  force  ever  did  before,  had  been  compelled  to 
strike.  The  immediate  termination  of  the  battle  ap 
pears  to  have  been  decided  by  the  bold  Nelsonian  meas 
ure  of  breaking  through  the  British  line  and  coming 
to  close  action. 

A  naval  officer  at  Lake  Erie  thus  writes : 
"  In  no  action  fought  this  war  has  the  conduct  of  the 
commanding  officer  been  so  conspicuous  or  so  evident 
ly  decisive  of  the   fate  of  the  battle,  as  in  this.     When 
he  discovered  that  nothing  further  could  be  done  in  the 


f 


mt^ 


THE  BATTLES   OF  AMERICA. 

Lawrence,  he  wisely  removed  to  the  Niagara,  and  by 
one  of  the  boldest  and  most  judicious  manoeuvres  ever 
practised,  decided  the  contest  at  once.  Had  the  Niag 
ara  shared  the  fate  of  the  Lawrence,  it  was  his  intention 
to  have  removed  to  the  next  best  vessel,  and  so  on  as 
long  as  one  of  his  squadron  continued  to  float.  The 
enemy  saw  him  put  off,  and  acknowledge  that  they  fired 
a  broadside  at  him.  With  his  usual  gallantry  he  went 
off  standing  up  in  the  stern  of  the  boat ;  but  the  crew 
insisted  on  his  sitting  down.  The  enemy  speak  with 
admiration  of  the  manner  in  which  the  Lawrence  bore 
down  upon  them.  She  continued  her  course  so  long 
and  so  obstinately,  that  they  thought  we  were  goinp"  to 
board  them.  They  had  a  great  advantage  in  having 
long  guns.  Many  of  our  men  were  killed  on  the  berth 
deck  and  in  the  steerage,  after  they  were  taken  below 
to  be  dressed.  One  shot  went  through  the  light  loom, 
and  knocked  the  snuff  of  the  candle  into  the  magazine 
— the  gunner  happened  to  see  it  immediately,  and  ex 
tinguished  it  with  his  hand:  2  shot  passed  through 
the  magazine ;  2  through  the  cabin ;  3  or  4  came  into 
the  ward  room — but  I  believe  only  one  went  quite 
through,  and  that  passed  a  few  inches  over  the  surgeon's 
head  as  he  sat  in  the  cockpit.  Our  short  guns  lodged 
their  shot  in  the  bulwarks  of  the  Detroit,  where  a 
number  now  remain.  Her  bulwarks,  however,  were 
vastly  superior  to  ours,  being  of  oak  and  very  thick. 
Many  of  their  grape-shot  came  through  ours.  They 
acknowledge  that  they  threw  combustible  matter  on 
board  of  us,  which  set  our  sails  and  rigging  on  fire  in 
several  places.  I'm  clearly  of  opinion  that  they  were 
better  manned  than  we  were.  They  had  a  much  greater 
number — they  had  veteran  troops — their  men  were  all 
well.  We  had  as  motley  a  crew  as  ever  went  into 
action;  and  our  vessels  looked  like  hospital  ships. 
"  During  the  whole  of  the  action  the  most  complete 


238  THE  BATTLES   OF  AMERICA. 

order  prevailed  on  board  the  Lawrence.  There  was  no 
noise,  no  bustle,  no  confusion.  As  fast  as  the  men  were 
wounded  they  were  taken  below  and  replaced  by  others. 
The  dead  remained  where  they  fell  until  the  action  was 
over.  Captain  Perry  exhibited  that  cool,  collected, 
dignified  bravery,  which  those  acquainted  with  him 
would  have  expected.  His  countenance  all  the  time 
was  just  as  composed  as  if  he  had  been  engaged  in 
ordinary  duty.  As  soon  as  the  action  was  over  he  gave 
all  his  attention  to  the  securing  of  the  prisoners  and  to 
the  wounded  on  both  sides.  Captain  Barclay  declared 
to  one  of  our  officers,  several  days  after  the  action,  that 
Perry  had  done  himself  immortal  honor  by  his  human 
ity  and  attention  to  the  wounded  prisoners.  The  action 
was  fought  on  Friday — we  got  into  harbor  next  day. 
On  Sunday  all  the  officers  on  both  sides,  who  fell,  were 
buried  on  South  Bass  Island,  at  Put-in-Bay,  with  the 
honors  of  war." 

As  the  intelligence  of  this  victory  was  carried  through 
the  country,  the  most  extravagant  expressions  of  de 
light  were  everywhere  displayed ;  and  Commander 
Perry  was  hailed  as  the  saviour  of  the  Northwest. 
Salutes  and  illuminations,  and  public  meetings  gave 
evidence  of  the  popular  sentiment;  and  it  is  said  "  the 
greneral  joy  was  unequalled  since  the  surrender  of 
Cornwallis  at  Yorktown." 

But  not  alone  from  its  effects  on  the  affairs  of  the 
nation  was  this  action  memorable.  Says  Irving: 
"  Were  anything  wanting  to  perpetuate  the  fame  of  this 
victory,  it  would  be  sufficiently  memorable  from  the 
scene  where  it  was  fought.  The  war  had  been  distin 
guished  by  new  and  peculiar  characteristics.  Naval 
warfare  had  been  carried  into  the  interior  of  a  con 
tinent;  and  navies,  as  if  by  magic,  launched  from 
among  the  depths  of  the  forest.  The  bosoms  of  peace 
ful  lakes  which,  but  a  short  time  before,  were  scarcely 


S£A   BATTLES   OF  1812-1815.  239 

navigable  by  man,  except  to  be  skimmed  by  the  light 
canoe  of  the  savage,  had  all  at  once  been  ploughed  by 
hostile  ships.  The  vast  silence,  that  had  reigned  for 
ages  on  those  mighty  waters,  was  broken  by  the  thunder 
of  artillery;  and  the  affrighted  savage  stared  with 
amazement  from  his  covert  at  the  sudden  apparition  of 
a  sea-fight  amid  the  solitudes  of  the  wilderness." 

THE  Loss  OF  THE  ESSEX  (March  28,  1814). — One  of 
the  most  remarkable  cruises  on  record  is  that  of  the 
frigate  Essex,  commanded  by  Captain  David  Porter. 
Intended  as  a  consort  of  the  Constitution  and  Hornet, 
under  the  general  command  of  Commodore  Bainbridge, 
she  sailed  from  the  Delaware  on  October  28,  1812,  and 
ran  to  Fort  Praya  (St.  yago\  the  appointed  place  of 
rendezvous.  But  in  consequence  of  her  heavy  supply 
of  stores,  and  her  consequent  dull  sailing,  she  did  not 
reach  the  rendezvous  until  after  the  commodore  had  left. 

Thus  thrown  upon  his  own  resources,  Captain  Porter 
determined  to  turn  Cape  Horn  and  cruise  in  the  Pacific 
Ocean,  where  a  heavy  British  commerce  was  almost 
wholly  unprotected ;  and  from  which,  it  was  hoped, 
the  most  desirable  success  might  be  obtained.  On 
her  progress  thither  the  most  provoking  want  of  suc 
cess  was  experienced,  but  between  March  5,  1813,  when 
she  anchored  off  the  Island  of  Mocha,  and  the  time  of 
her  capture,  fortune  favored  her  crew;  and  one  of  the 
most  successful,  if  not  the  most  romantic,  cruises  on 
record  fell  to  her  lot. 

The  enemy's  letters  of  marque,  which  had  been  sent 
out  to  harass  the  American  whalers,  were  checked  and 
overpowered;  the  enemy's  commerce  was  completely 
cut  up  and  destroyed  ;  the  single  ship  which  entered  the 
Pacific,  without  a  consort,  and  but  poorly  supplied  with 
many  of  the  necessaries  for  a  cruise,  by  manning  her 
prizes  and  by  levying  on  the  enemy's  commerce,  had 


240  THE  BATTLES   OF  AMERICA. 

become  the  flag-ship  of  a  victorious  squadron,  whose 
progress  from  port  to  port,  and  from  harbor  to  harbor, 
was  only  a  series  of  triumphs;  whose  adventures  assumed 
a  character  kindred  to  those  of  the  marvelous  navi 
gators  of  earlier  and  darker  days;  whose  exploits  spread 
terror  wherever  it  found  the  British  flag,  and  even  along 
the  wharves,  in  the  counting-rooms,  and  around  the 
firesides  of  Britain  herself. 

Captain   Porter  thus  reported: 

"  I  had  completely  broken  up  the  British  navigation 
in  the  Pacific  (he  had  captured  12  vessels  containing 
107  guns  and  manned  with  302  men) ;  the  vessels  which 
had  not  been  captured  by  iv.e  were  laid  up,  and  dared 
not  venture  out.  I  had  afforded  the  most  ample  pro 
tection  to  our  own  vessels,  which  were,  on  my  arrival, 
very  numerous  and  unprotected.  The  valuable  whale 
fishery  there  is  entirely  destroyed,  and  the  actual  in 
jury  we  have  done  them  may  be  estimated  at  two 
and  a  half  millions  of  dollars,  independent  of  the  ex 
penses  of  the  vessels  in  search  of  me.  They  have  fur 
nished  me  amply  with  sails,  cordage,  cables,  anchors, 
provisions,  medicines,  and  stores  of  every  description; 
and  the  slop-shops  on  board  them  have  furnished  cloth 
ing  for  the  seamen.  We  have  in  fact  lived  on  the  enemy 
since  I  have  been  in  that  sea,  every  prize  having  proved 
a  well-found  store-ship  for  me.  I  had  not  yet  been 
under  the  necessity  of  drawing  bills  on  the  depart 
ment  for  any  object,  and  had  been  enabled  to  make 
considerable  advances  to  my  officers  and  crew  on  ac 
count  of  pay." 

After  having  thoroughly  overhauled  and  refitted  the 
Essex,  at  the  Marquesas,  on  December  12,  1813,  in 
company  with  one  of  her  prizes  which  had  been  armed 
with  twenty  guns,  and  called  the  Essex,  Junior,  the 
Essex  sailed  from  Madison  Island;  and  on  February 
3,  1814,  she  anchored  in  the  bay  of  Valparaiso.  Four 


SEA   BATTLES   OF  1812-1815,  24! 

days  afterwards,  two  British  vessels  of  war— the  frigate 
Phcebe,  Captain  Hillyer,  of  thirty-six  guns,  and  the 
sloop-of-war  Cherub,  Captain  Tucker,  of  twenty-eight 
guns — also  entered  the  bay;  and  the  former  ranged  up 
alongside  the  Essex,  between  that  vessel  and  the  Essex, 
Junior. 

During  the  succeeding  43  days  the  four  vessels  were 
in  the  bay,  restrained  by  the  neutrality  of  the  port. 

Having  grown  weary  of  the  blockade,  and  under 
standing  that  the  enemy's  force  would  be  increased  at 
an  early  day,  Porter  determined  to  leave  port,  and 
rely  on  the  speed  of  his  vessels  and  his  skill  in  sail 
ing  them  as  the  means  of  escape.  Accordingly,  on 
March  28,  with  a  fresh  breeze  from  the  southward,  the 
Essex  stood  out  to  sea;  but  before  she  cleared  the 
harbor  a  squall  struck  her,  carrying  away  her  main 
top-mast,  after  which,  failing  in  her  attempt  to  regain 
the  common  anchorage,  she  ran  into  a  small  bay  on 
the  east  side  of  the  harbor,  about  three-quarters  of  a 
mile  from  the  battery,  and  cast  anchor,  within  pistol- 
shot  from  the  shore,  with  the  intention  of  repairing 
her  damage  at  that  place. 

In  the  meantime  the  PJicebe  and  Cherub  had  pursued 
the  Essex;  and  when  the  latter,  disabled,  anchored 
within  the  limits  of  the  harbor,  and  under  the  protec 
tion  of  its  neutrality,  it  was  properly  supposed  the 
enemy,  also,  would  respect  the  rights  which  Porter  had, 
previously,  recognized  in  him.  The  approach  of  the 
two  vessels,  decked  with  their  battle-flags,  jacks,  pen 
nants,  and  ensigns,  speedily  dispelled  that  illusion,  how 
ever ;  and  the  crippled  Essex,  separated  from  her  "Junior" 
which  had  been  left  in  the  harbor,  was  warned,  there 
from,  of  the  hostility  of  his  intentions,  and  prepared  for 
his  reception.  At  fifty-four  minutes  past  three  in  the 
afternoon,  the  Plicebe — having  come  within  range  of  her 
long  guns  while  yet  the  carronades  of  the  Essex  were 


242 


THE   BA  TTLES   OF  AMERICA. 


still  useless — opened  a  fire  on  the  stern  of  the  latter, 
at  long-shot  distance;  while,  at  the  same  time,  the 
Cherub,  on  her  starboard  bow,  also  opened  an  effective 
fire.  The  bow-guns  of  the  Essex,  however,  soon  ren 
dered  the  situation  of  the  latter  vessel  an  uncomfortable 
one;  and  she  bore  up  and  ran  under  the  stern  of  the 
Essex,  joining  with  the  Plicebe  in  a  hot,  raking  fire. 
Having  run  three  long  twelves  out  from  the  stern-ports 
of  the  Essex,  her  crew  was  enabled  to  return  the  com 
pliments  of  the  combined  enemy;  and,  with  so  much 
skill  and  effect  was  it  done,  that,  within  half  an  hour 
from  the  opening  of  the  engagement,  both  vessels  were 
compelled  to  haul  off  and  repair  damages. 

During  this  brief  engagement  the  Essex  and  her  crew 
suffered  considerably,  and  her  ensign  at  the  gaff  and 
the  battle-flag  at  her  mizzen-masthead  had  been  shot 
away;  but  when,  "  a  few  minutes"  afterwards, the  enemy 
returned  to  the  contest,  the  motto  flag,  "  FREE  TRADE 
AND  SAILORS'  RIGHTS,"  at  her  main-masthead,  sent  forth 
the  defiance  which  the  crew  on  her  decks  so  gallantly 
ratified  a  few  minutes  afterwards. 

Having  repaired  his  damages,  the  enemy  returned  to 
the  action ;  and  both  his  vessels,  having  taken  their 
position  on  the  starboard-quarter  of  the  Essex,  out  of 
the  reach  of  her  carronades,  and  where  her  stern-guns 
could  not  be  brought  to  bear,  they  opened  a  destructive 
fire  on  the  devoted,  and  comparatively  helpless,  vessel. 
Under  these  circumstances,  Porter  was  compelled  to 
choose  between  a  tame  surrender,  and  running  down 
and  becoming  the  assailant.  His  topsail-sheets  and 
halyards,  as  well  as  his  jib  and  foretop-mast-staysail- 
halyards,  having  been  shot  away,  leaving  only  his  flying- 
jib-halyards,  he  hoisted  the  latter  sail,  cut  his  cable,  and 
ran  down  on  both  ships,  with  an  intention  of  laying  the 
PJiccbe  on  board.  During  the  time  which  this  manoeuvre 
occupied,  the  fire,  on  both  sides,  was  very  severe — that 


SEA   BATTLES    OF  1812-1815. 


243 


of  the  Essex  with  the  hope  of  disabling  her  opponent 
and  preventing  her  escape  ;  that  of  the  enemy  to  disable, 
still  more,  his  opponent,  and  prevent  her  progress  in 
the  desperate  mission  on  which  she  had  ventured. 

The  CJierub,  distrusting  her  abilities  for  a  successful 
defence  at  close  action,  hauled  off,  and  performed  her 
part  of  the  drama  at  a  distance,  with  her  long  guns 
only.  The  PJicebe,  also,  preferring  to  fight  at  a  distance, 
edged  off  as  the  Essex  neared  her;  and,  with  character 
istic  prudence,  selected  that  position  which  best  suited 
her  long  guns,  continuing  her  fire  with  terrible  effect, 
while  that  of  the  Essex  was,  from  her  position  and  her 
helplessness,  of  but  little  use.  At  that  time,  the  running 
rigging  of  the  Essex  was  almost  wholly  shot  away; 
and,  as  her  sails  could  not  be  handled,  she  was  almost 
entirely  unmanageable.  Many  of  her  guns  had  been 
rendered  useless  by  the  enemy's  shot,  and  many  of  them 
had  their  entire  crews  destroyed — some  of  them  had, 
indeed,  been  remanned  twice,  and  one  of  them  three 
times. 

Perceiving  that  the  enemy  had  it  in  his  power  to 
choose  his  distance,  and  to  keep  off  rather  than  to  come 
to  close  action,  Porter  determined  to  run  the  Essex  on 
shore,  land  his  crew,  and  set  fire  to  his  ship.  The  wind 
favored  the  design,  and  everything  appeared  to  favor  it, 
until  the  ship  had  moved  to  within  musket-shot  of  the 
shore,  when  the  wind  suddenly  shifted,  and  blowing 
'from  the  shore,  the  head  of  the  Essex  instantly  payed ' 
down  on  the  Phoebe,  and.  exposed  the  decks  of  the  de 
voted  ship  to  another  severe,  raking  fire — an  advantage 
which  was  not  lost  sight  of  by  the  enemy. 

The  fire  on  the  Essex  continued  with  unabated  fury, 
although  the  unmanageable  ship  was  unable  to  bring  a 
single  gun  to  bear  on  the  enemy.  In  this  dilemma 
Porter  ordered  a  hawser  to  be  bent  to  the  sheet-anchor, 
and  the  anchor  to  be  cut  down  from  the  bows;  when 

Independence — 16 


244  THE  BATTLES  OF  AMERICA. 

her  head  was  brought  round,  and  the  broadside  again 
bore  on  the  enemy.  Soon  afterwards  the  hawser  parted, 
and  the  ship  took  fire;  when,  by  Porter's  directions, 
some  of  the  crew  attempted  to  swim  ashore,  while  those 
who  remained  turned  their  attention  to  a  suppression 
of  the  flames,  in  which,  after  a  severe  struggle,  they 
were  finally  successful. 

By  this  time  the  crew  had  become  so  weary,  and  so 
many  had  fallen,  that  further  resistance  was  considered 
not  only  useless,  but  criminal;  "the  painful  order  was 
given  to  strike  the  colors,"  and  the  action  terminated. 

At  this  time  the  situation  of  the  ship  and  her  crew 
was  truly  lamentable.  In  the  words  of  her  commander, 
"  the  cock-pit,  the  steerage,  the  ward-room,  and  the 
berth-deck  could  contain  no  more  wounded  ;  the  latter 
were  killed  while  the  surgeons  were  dressing  them;  and 
it  was  evident  that  unless  something  was  speedily  done 
to  prevent  it,  the  ship  would  soon  sink  from  the  number 
of  shot-holes  in  her  bottom.  The  carpenter  reported 
that  his  crew  had  been  killed  or  wounded ;  and  that  he 
had  been  once  over  the  side  to  stop  the  leaks,  when  his 
slings  had  been  shot  away,  and  it  was  with  difficulty  he 
was  saved  from  drowning."  There  were,  therefore,  no 
hopes  of  saving  the  ship,  or  of  preventing  her  from 
falling  into  the  enemy's  hands,  and  a  further  sacrifice  of 
life  would  have  been  unjustifiable. 

The  strength  of  the  Essex  in  this  engagement  was 
forty  32-pound  carronades  and  six  long-twelves,  with 
a  crew  of  255  men;  that  of  the  enemy  was  30  long- 
eighteens  and  sixteen  32-pound  carronades,  with  a 
howitzer  and  six  three-pounders  in  her  tops,  on  the 
Pli&be ;  and  eighteen  32-pound  and  eight  24-pound  car 
ronades  and  two  long-nines  on  the  Cherub — the  former 
having  a  crew  of  320,  and  the  latter  one  of  180  men 
and  boys.  The  peculiarity  of  the  movements,  how 
ever,  were  such  that,  with  but  a  slight  exception,  the 


SEA   BATTLES   OF  1812-1815. 


245 


ships  fought  at  long  gun-shot  distance  ;  and  the  fight 
ing  strength  therefore  was  thirty  long  eighteen-pounders 
and  two  long-nines,  on  the  part  of  the  enemy,  against 
six  long-twelves  on  the  Essex — a  disparity  which  will 
explain  at  a  glance  the  disastrous  termination  of  the 
engagement.  The  loss  of  the  enemy  from  the  same 
cause  was  much  less  than  that  of  the  Essex — the  PJiccbe 
losing  four  killed  and  seven  wounded ;  the  Cherub,  one 
killed  and  three  wounded ;  and  the  Essex,  fifty-eight 
killed,  sixty-six  wounded^  and  thirty-one  missing. 
Porter  thus  wrote  to  the  Secretary  of  the  Navy : 
"To  possess  the  Essex  it  has  cost  the  British  Govern 
ment  nearly  six  millions  of  dollars  ;  and  yet,  sir,  her  cap 
ture  was  owing  entirely  to  accident ;  and  if  we  consider 
the  expedition  with  which  naval  contests  are  now  de 
cided,  the  action  is  a  dishonor  to  them.  Had  they 
brought  their  ships  boldly  to  action  with  a  force  so  very 
superior,  and  having  the  choice  of  position,  they  should 
either  have  captured  or  destroyed  us  in  one-fourth  the 
time  they  were  about  it." 

The  Essex  had  landed  all  her  specie,  amounting  to 
two  millions  of  dollars,  at  Valparaiso  previous  to  her 
being  captured. 

Loss  OF  THE  PRESIDENT  (January  16,  1815). — On 
January  14,  1815,  the  President,  under  command  of  Cap 
tain  Stephen  Decatur,  dropped  down  to  Sandy  Hook, 
New  York  harbor;  and  during  the  night  she  attempted 
to  cross  the  bar  and  put  to  sea.  From  some  unex 
plained  cause  the  pilots  missed  the  channel,  and  ran  the 
ship  on  one  of  the  shoals  which  obstruct  the  entrance 
of  the  harbor;  and  she  was  detained  five  hours  by  that 
unexpected  misfortune.  As  a  squadron  of  the  enemy's 
ships  had  been  blockading  the  harbor  several  weeks, 
and  had  been  blown  off  by  a  gale  which  had  prevailed 
on  the  previous  day,  the  opportunity  to  run  the  frigate 


246  THE  BATTLES  OF  AMERICA. 

out  had  been  embraced  by  Decatur,  and  this  mishap 
was  peculiarly  unfortunate,  resulting,  as  it  probably  did, 
in  the  loss  to  the  country  of  the  fine  ship  which  he  com 
manded. 

At  five  the  next  morning,  while  steering  southeast  by 
east,  three  strange  sail  were  made,  within  gun-shot  of 
the  President,  and  directly  ahead ;  when  she  was  hauled 
up,  and  passed  to  the  northward  of  them,  two  miles  dis 
tant.  At  daylight,  however,  four  ships  were  seen  in 
chase — two  of  them  astern,  and  one  on  each  quarter — 
the  leading  ship  being  about  three  miles  distant.  As 
the  President  was  deeply  laden  with  stores  for  a  long 
cruise,  Decatur  ordered  all  hands  to  lighten  the  ship  ; 
and  for  that  purpose  water-casks  were  started,  anchors 
were  cut  away,  provisions,  cables,  spare  spars,  boats,  and 
every  article  that  could  be  got  at  were  thrown  over 
board,  and  the  sails  were  kept  wet,  from  the  royals  down. 
The  wind  was  light  and  baffling;  and  the  President's 
pursuers,  lightly  laden,  and  favored  with  stronger 
breezes,  gained 'rapidly  on  her — the  nearest,  at  three 
o'clock  in  the  afternoon,  opening  her  fire  from  her  bow- 
guns  ;  and,  at  five,  obtaining  a  position  on  her  starboard- 
quarter,  within  half-point-blank-shot  distance,  on  which 
neither  her  stern  or  quarter  guns  could  be  brought  to 
bear. 

After  occupying  this  position  half  an  hour — the 
enemy's  fire,  meanwhile,  having  become  quite  trouble- 
some,  as  every  shot  carried  away  some  of  the  President's 
rigg'ng — and  after  endeavoring  to  prevail  on  the  stranger 
to  range  alongside,  which  was  declined,  Decatur  deter 
mined  to  exchange  shots  with  her,  if  possible  ;  and  his 
crew  cheerfully  received  the  information,  and  joined  in 
the  measures  adopted  for  its  execution.  With  this 
object,  at  half-past  five  o'clock,  while  it  was  yet  light, 
the  President's  helm  was  put  up,  and  the  course  of 
the  ship  laid  to  the  southward,  with  the  intention 


CAPTAIN  STEPHEN  DECATUR, 


248  THE  BATTLES   OF  AMERICA. 

of  closing  with  her  opponent.  The  stranger,  how 
ever,  appeared  to  understand  Decatur's  purpose,  and 
she  too,  at  the  same  time,  kept  off — the  ships  soon  after 
wards  coming  abeam  of  each  other,  and  each  delivering 
her  broadside.  During  the  succeeding  two  hours 
and  a  half  the  two  ships  appear  to  have  run  off  dead 
before  the  wind,  about  a  quarter  of  a  mile  apart ;  and 
every  attempt  to  close,  which  was  made  by  the  Presi 
dent,  was  frustrated  by  the  simultaneous  sheering  off  of 
the  stranger.  The  action,  therefore,  was  altogether 
with  heavy  guns ;  and  the  efforts  of  both  appear  to  have 
been  mainly  directed  against  the  spars  and  rigging  of 
her  opponent,  until  eight  o'clock,  when  the  stranger 
having  been  dismantled — "  her  sails  being  cut  from  her 
yards  " — she  dropped  astern,  and  the  President  pursued 
her  former  course,  repairing  her  damages,  and  seeking 
to  shake  off  the  three  strangers,  which,  with  a  brig,  which 
had  also  joined  in  the  pursuit,  still  continued  the  chase, 
and  were  also  rapidly  gaining  on  her. 

The  chase  continued  in  this  order  until  eleven  o'clock, 
when  the  four  fresh  vessels  had  come  within  gun-shot 
of  the  President — one  of  them  (the  Pomone)  opening  her 
fire  on  her  larboard  bow,  within  musket-shot  distance ; 
another  (the  Tenedos],  within  two  cables'  length  of  her 
quarter;  and  the  remainder  (the  Majestic  and  the  De 
spatch}  within  gun-shot  astern.  Thus  surrounded  by  a 
force  greatly  superior  to  his  own,  with  his  ship  badly 
crippled,  and  one-fifth  of  her  crew  killed  or  wounded, 
and  with  no  chance  to  escape  from  his  fresh  pursuers, 
Decatur  considered  it  his  duty  to  surrender,  and  he 
hoisted  a  light  as  an  indication  of  that  purpose. 

The  force  of  the  President  was  thirty-two  long  24- 
pounders,  one  24-pound  howitzer,  twenty  42-pound 
carronades,  and  five  small  pieces  in  her  tops ;  the 
Rndymion — with  which  the  conflict  opened — was  rated 
a  forty-gun,  ship,  but  mounted  twenty-six  long  24-pound, 


SEA  BATTLES   OF  1S12-J815. 


249 


twenty-two  32-pound,  and  one  12-pound  carronade,  and 
one  long-eighteen ;  while  the  Majestic,  razee,  rated 
56  guns,  the  Tenedos  rated  38  guns,  the  Porno  tie  rated 
38  guns,  and  of  the  Despatch  the  real  strength  is  not 
known.  The  loss  of  the  President  was  24  killed  and 
56  wounded;  that  of  the  Endymion  was  1 1  killed  and  14 
wounded. 

CAPTURE  OF  THE  CYANE  AND  LEVANT  (February  20, 
1815). — On  December  17,  1814,  the  frigate  Constitution, 
commanded  by  Captain  Charles  Stewart,  sailed  from 
Boston  on  a  cruise ;  and,  after  looking  into  Bermuda, 
she  ran  over  to  Madeira  and  the  Bay  of  Biscay,  making 
two  prizes  on  her  way,  one  of  which  was  destroyed,  the 
other  sent  in. 

At  one  o'clock  in  the  afternoon  of  the  2Oth,  a  strange 
sail  was  made  on  the  larboard-bow,  when  the  Constitu 
tion  hauled  up  two  or  three  points,  and  made  sail  in 
chase.  Three-quarters  of  an  hour  afterwards  a  second 
sail  was  made,  ahead,  and  both  were  soon  ascertained 
to  be  ships,  standing  close  hauled,  with  their  starboard- 
tacks  on  board. 

The  strangers  were  not  long  in  ascertaining  the  char 
acter  of  the  Constitution,  although  her  strength  was  not 
at  first  discovered  ;  and  at  four  o'clock  the  weathermost 
ship  made  signals  to  her  consort,  and  bore  up  for  her — 
the  Constitution,  meanwhile,  bearing  up  after  her,  setting 
all  her  canvas,  and  carrying  away  her  main  royal-mast 
in  the  chase.  At  five  she  opened  her  fire  with  her  lar 
board  bow-guns,  but  without  effect ;  and  perceiving  that 
a  junction  of  the  two  strangers  could  not  be  prevented, 
at  half-past  five  she  cleared  for  action,  being  then  four 
miles  astern  of  them.  A  series  of  manoeuvres  by  the 
consorts,  for  the  purpose  of  gaining  the  position,  occu 
pied  their  attention  until  near  six  o'clock,  and  they  then 
shortened  sail,  and  at  half-cable-length  distance  from 


250 


THE  BATTLES   OF  AMERICA. 


each  other,  and  awaited  the  approach  of  the  Consti 
tution. 

At  five  minutes  past  six  the  frigate  ranged  up  on  the 
starboard  side  of  the  sternmost  ship,  about  300  yards 
distant,  and  opened  her  fire  by  broadsides,  both  her 
opponents  answering  her  with  spirit  and  effect.  During 
a  quarter  of  an  hour  the  cannonade  continued,  when  the 
fire  of  the  consorts  slackened  ;  and  the  frigate  also  held 
her  fire  to  allow  the  smoke  to  clear  away,  and  that  the 
position  of  her  opponents  might  be  ascertained.  Imme 
diately  afterwards  the  Constitution  found  that  she  was 
abreast  the  headmost  ship,  while  her  consort  was  luffing 
up  for  the  frigate's  larboard-quarter ;  when  the  latter 
gave  the  former  a  broadside,  and  braced  aback  her 
main  mizzen-topsails,  backing  astern,  under  cover  of  the 
smoke,  abreast  of  the  latter,  and  continued  the  action. 
During  the  succeeding  quarter  of  an  hour  the  cannonade 
continued,  when  the  enemy's  fire  again  slackened,  and 
the  headmost  ship  was  seen,  through  the  smoke,  bearing 
up,  with  the  intention  of  crossing  the  frigate's  fore-foot; 
when  the  Constitution  filled  her  topsails,  shot  ahead,  and 
gave  her  two  raking  broadsides  over  the  stern.  It  was 
then  discovered  that  the  sternmost  ship  was  also  wear 
ing,  when  Captain  Stewart  immediately  wore  ship  after 
her,  and  gave  her  a  raking  broadside  ;  while  she  luffed, 
too,  on  the  frigate's  starboard  broadside,  and  threw  in 
her  larboard  broadside  with  great  spirit  and  determi 
nation.  On  receiving  this  fire  the  Constitution  ranged 

fc>  o 

up  on  the  stranger's  larboard-quarter,  within  hail,  and 
was  about  to  give  her  starboard  fire,  when  the  latter  fired 
a  gun  to  leeward,  and,  at  a  quarter  before  seven,  she 
surrendered.  She  was  found  to  be  the  British  frigate 
Cyanc,  Captain  Falcon,  mounting  thirty-six  guns,  with 
a  crew  of  180  men. 

About  an  hour  afterwards  the  Constitution  filled  away 
after  the  ship  which  had  been  driven  out  of  the  action, 


SEA  BATTLES  OF  1812-1815.  251 


but  was  still  visible  through  the  dim  moonlight  which 
relieved  the  darkness  of  the  night.  At  half-past  eight 
the  two  ships  met — the  stranger  gallantly  coming  up  to 
meet  the  frigate,  with  her  starboard-tacks  close  hauled, 
her  topgallant-sails  set,  and  her  colors  flying.  Ten 
minutes  later  the  Constitution  ranged  close  alongside  to 
windward  of  her,  on  an  opposite  tack;  and  the  two  ships 
exchanged  broadsides.  The  frigate  having  thrown  in 
her  fire,  immediately  wore  under  the  stranger's  stern, 
and  raked  her  ;  when  she  made  sail  and  endeavored  to 
escape.  The  frigate  immediately  made  sail  in  chase  ; 
and  at  half-past  nine  she  opened  a  fire  on  the  fugitive 
from  her  starboard  bow-guns,  which  cut  her  spars  and 
rigging  very  severely.  At  ten  o'clock,  finding  she  could 
not  escape,  the  stranger  fired  a  gun  to  leeward,  and 
she,  too,  surrendered,  proving  to  b<?  the  sloop-of-war 
Levant,  mounting  twenty-one  guns,  with  a  crew  of  156 
men. 

The  armament  of  the  Constitution  at  this  time  was 
fifty-two  guns,  and  her  loss  during  the  action  was  three 
killed  and  twelve  wounded ;  the  enemy's  loss  was,  on  the 
Cyane,  12  killed  and  26  wounded ;  and  on  the  Levant 
23  killed  and  16  wounded. 

CAPTURE  OF  THE  PENGUIN  (March  23, 1815). — The  cap 
ture  of  the  President,  already  referred  to,  being  unknown 
to  the  commanders  of  the  other  vessels  composing  the 
squadron,  they  followed  her  to  sea  on  January  22,  1815  ; 
and  made  the  best  of  their  way  to  the  Island  of 
Tristan  d'Cunha,  the  place  of  rendezvous  appointed 
by  Captain  Decatur.  The  Peacock  and  Tom  Bowline 
reached  that  place  about  the  middle  of  March;  and  on 
the  morning  of  the  23d  the  Hornet  also  arrived  at  the 
same  place.  She  had  not  cast  anchor,  however,  when 
the  men  aloft  discovered  a  sail  to  windward,  standing 
westward;  when  Captain  Biddle  immediately  sheeted 


252 


THE  BATTLES  OF  AMERICA. 


home  his  topsails  again,  and  making  a  stretch  to  wind* 
ward,  made  chase.  Soon  afterwards  the  stranger  was 
seen  running  down  before  the  wind  ;  and,  as  her  char 
acter  was  apparent,  the  Hornet  hove  to  and  waited  for 
her  to  come  down. 

At  forty  minutes  past  one  in  the  afternoon,  the 
stranger  having  come  within  musket-shot,  she  set  Eng 
lish  colors  and  fired  a  gun;  when  the  Hornet  luffed  up, 
displayed  her  colors,  and  answered  with  a  broadside. 
During  the  succeeding  fifteen  minutes  the  fire  of  both 
vessels  was  warm  and  effective,  the  enemy  meanwhile 
gradually  drifting  nearer  to  the  Hornet ;  and  soon  after 
wards  she  put  her  helm  hard  up,  and  ran  down  on  the 
starboard  broadside  of  the  Hornet,  to  lay  her  aboard ; 
and  she  succeeded  in  passing  her  bowsprit  through  the 
starboard-quarter  of  the  latter.  At  that  instant  the 
stranger's  foremast  and  bowsprit  went  by  the  board,  the 
former  falling  directly  on  her  larboard  guns  ;  and  her 
crew,  probably  in  consequence  of  this  mishap,  made  no 
attempt  whatever  to  take  advantage  of  her  situation,  but 
allowed  the  vessels  to  separate.  An  attempt  was  made 
to  bring  the  brig  around,  in  order  to  use  her  starboard 
battery,  but  in  this  also  the  crew  was  unsuccessful,  and 
the  Hornet  succeeded  in  raking  her.  Perceiving  that 
any  further  resistance  was  useless,  the  enemy  hailed  the 
Hornet  and  surrendered. 

The  prize  proved  to  be  the  British  brig  Penguin,  Cap 
tain  Dickinson,  mounting  nineteen  guns,  besides  guns  in 
her  tops  ;  and  she  was  manned  with  a  crew  of  132  hands. 
The  loss  of  the  Hornet  was  one  man  killed,  and  Captain 
Biddle,  Lieutenant  Conner,  and  eight  men  wounded ; 
that  of  the  Penguin  was  Captain  Dickinson,  her  boat 
swain,  and  12  men  killed,  the  second  lieutenant,  two 
midshipmen,  purser,  and  24  men  wounded.  The  former 
suffered  little  injury,  except  in  her  sails  and  rigging;  the 
latter  was  completely  riddled,  her  foremast  and  bowsprit 


SEA   BATTLES   OF  1812-1815. 

were  carried  away,  and  her  mainmast  was  so  muck  in 
jured  that  it  could  not  be  secured. 

It  has  been  said  of  this — the  last  "battle-"  of  che  war 
with  Britain — that  "  it  was  one  of  the  most  creditable  to 
the  character  of  the  American  marine  that  occurred  in 
the  course  of  the  war.  The  vessels  were  very  fairly 
matched,  and  when  it  is  remembered  that  an  English 
flag-officer  had  sent  the  Penguin  on  the  special  service 
against  a  ship  believed  to  be  materially  heavier  than  the 
vessel  she  actually  encountered,  it  is  fair  to  presume 
she  was  thought  to  be,  in  every  respect,  an  efficient 
cruiser/' 

The  privateers  which  sailed  from  our  ports  were  ex 
ceedingly  active  and  successful.  They  were  mainly  clip 
pers,  and  very  fast  sailors ;  and  were  engaged  in  many 
desperate  encounters.  Their  engagements  were  so 
numerous  that  our  limits  will  not  allow  us  to  enter 
into  any  specific  details.  Within  four  months  after  the 
declaration  of  war  26  fast  sailing  vessels,  bearing  1 8  long- 
guns,  194  pieces  of  artillery,  and  2233  men,  sailed  from 
New  York ;  while  17  from  Baltimore,  carrying  22  long- 
toms,  and  127  guns,  nobly  seconded  the  enterprise  and 
gallantry  of  their  neighbors;  and  all,  alike,  vindicated 
the  freedom  of  the  seas  and  the  rights  of  man. 

Lossing  enumerates  that  "56  British  vessels  of  war  were 
captured  on  the  lakes  and  on  the  ocean,  mounting  886 
guns,  and  2360  merchant  vessels,  mounting  8000  guns. 
In  addition  to  this  29  British  ships-of-war,  mounting 
800  guns,  were  lost  on  the  American  coast  by  wreck, 
or  otherwise;  and  that  the  Americans  lost  only  25 
vessels  of  war,  and  a  much  less  number  of  merchant 
ships  than  the  British." 

The  Americans  had  abundant  cause  to  be  elated,  and 
the  British  to  be  mortified.  The  young  Republic  were 
naturally  proud  of  their  achievements. 


CHAPTER   XII. 

THE  MEXICAN  WAR  (1845-1848). 

TEXAS  was  originally  a  portion  of  the  Mexican  Km- 
pire.  It  lies  to  the  north-east  of  the  other  parts  of 
Mexico,  and  is  a  solid  block  of  territory,  700  miles 
in  length  from  north  to  south,  and  800  miles  broad, 
where  the  land  is  at  its  widest.  Its  area  has  been 
estimated  as  nearly  equal  to  the  united  areas  of  Great 
Britain  and  France.  So  fertile  is  its  soil  that  it  will  pro 
duce  everything  which  will  grow  in  the  temperate  zone, 
with  many  things  which  require  a  semi-tropical  country 
for  their  due  development.  The  agricultural  capabilities 
of  the  country  are  magnificent,  while  beneath  the  sur 
face  are  mines  of  metal  and  of  coal,  quarries  of  stone, 
and  abundance  of  those  minerals  which  add  to  the 
wealth  of  States.  Such  a  territory  had  many  attrac 
tions,  and  more  than  one  European  nation  desired  to 
obtain  possession  of  it.  After  the  fall  of  Montezuma, 
in  1521,  it  was  nominally  a  part  of  the  Spanish  realm, 
but  being  remote  from  the  Mexican  capital,  was  not 
peopled  by  the  conquerors.  The  French,  who  claimed 
priority  of  discovery,  formed  a  settlement  at  Matagorda, 
but  were  expelled  by  the  Spaniards  in  the  latter  part 
of  the  1 7th  century.  After  the  rising  of  the  Mexicans 
against  the  dominion  of  Spain,  Texas  became  a  province 
of  the  Mexican  Republic.  Our  citizens  coveted  that 
northern  part  of  Mexico,  and  began  by  degrees  to  spread 
themselves  over  it. 
(254) 


THE   MEXICAN  WAR. 


255 


Texas  was  in  the  first  instance  claimed  by  the  Ameri 
can  Government  as  a  part  of  Louisiana,  but  the  claim 
was  in  1819  abandoned  in  favor  of  Mexico.  Neverthe 
less,  in  1821  and  the  following  year,  a  colony  from  the 
United  States  made  a  settlement  on  both  sides  of  the  River 
Colorado,  in  what  was  then  Mexican  territory,  and 
the  local  government,  not  foreseeing  that  such  a  move 
ment  was  likely  to  prove  their  own  ruin,  encouraged 
emigration.  Numbers  flowed  into  the  province,  and 
10,000  Americans  were  domiciled  there  in  1833.  They 
disliked  Mexican  rule,  with  its  alternations  of  imbecility 
and  military  dictatorship ;  and  desired  to  establish  a 
separate  government,  and  ultimately  to  transfer  Texas 
to  the  Union ;  and  secret  preparations  were  made  for  a 
revolt.  The  leader  of  these  movements  was  General 
Sam  Houston,  a  man  who  had  already  served  in  Con 
gress,  and  been  Governor  of  the  State  of  Tennessee, 
and  who  as  early  as  1830  mentioned  at  Washington 
that  he  had  in  his  mind  a  grand  project  for  wresting 
Texas  from  Mexico  and  setting  her  up  as  an  indepen 
dent  republic.  This  secret  was  revealed  to  President 
Jackson,  who  was  obliged  to  express  an  official  dis 
approval  of  the  plan,  but  who  applauded  it  in  his  heart. 
Jackson  always  desired  to  see  an  extension  of  the 
country  in  that  direction,  although  he  had  assented  to 
the  treaty  of  1819,  which  relinquished  Texas  in  con 
sideration  of  gaining  Florida. 

When  the  time  came  for  carrying  the  Houston  plot 
into  execution,  no  real  hindrance  was  put  in  the  way 
of  the  adventurers  by  the  Jackson  Administration. 
Hostilities  broke  out  in  1835.  Every  nerve  was  strained 
by  the  Mexican  Government  to  suppress  the  rising; 
but  it  spread  with  alarming  rapidity,  and  several  battles 
ensued,  some  of  which  were  obstinate  and  sanguinary. 

On  March  2,  1836,  a  convention  declared  Texas  inde 
pendent;  and  Santa  Anna,  the  President  of  the  Mexi- 


THE  BATTLES   OF  AMERICA. 

can  Republic,  underwent  a  crushing  defeat  at  San 
Jacinto  on  April  21,  on  which  occasion  the  Americans 
were  commanded  by  General  Houston.  The  province 
remained  for  some  years  a  perfectly  independent  re 
public,  ruled  by  a  dominant  class  of  Americans,  but 
not  officially  connected  with  the  United  States,  any 
more  than  with  Mexico  itself.  General  Houston  be 
came  the  first  President  of  the  Republic,  and  was  re- 
elected  for  a  second  term. 

In  time,  however,  it  was  felt  desirable  that  this  de 
tached  republic  should  connect  itself  with  the  great 
Confederation  to  which  a  large  part  of  its  population 
was  now  allied.  The  question  began  to  be  agitated, 
and  the  propriety  of  admitting  Texas  into  the  Union 
was  much  discussed  in  the  years  1843  and  1844.  The 
Mexican  Government  anticipated  all  discussion  on  the 
question,  announcing  its  determination  to  meet  any 
resolution  for  the  annexation  of  Texas  by  a  declaration 
of  war. 

President  Tyler's  allusion  to  the  Texan  question,  in 
his  Message  to  Congress  at  the  close  of  1843,  was  tne 
first  official  intimation  of  the  coming  war  with  Mexico. 
The  declared  resolve  of  the  Mexican  Government  to 
make  the  contemplated  annexation  a  casus  belli  stimu 
lated  in  a  yet  higher  degree  the  determination  of  the 
Government  to  get  possession  of  Texas  at  the  earliest 
opportunity.  An  attempt  to  secure  this  end  was  made 
during  1844,  but  was  defeated  by  the  Senate.  The  de 
mand  for  Texas  grew  louder  and  louder,  and  the  Presi- 

o 

dent  showed  every  inclination  to  gratify  it,  as  far  as  the 
limitations  on  his  power  enabled  him. 

On  March  I,  1845,  Congress  resolved  in  favor  of 
receiving  Texas  into  the  Union  as  a  State,  and  President 
Tyler  gave  his  assent  the  same  day.  The  resolution 
was  considered  by  a  convention  of  delegates  called 
for  the  purpose  of  forming  a  State  constitution  for 


THE  MEXICAN  WAR. 


257 


Texas,  and  was  approved  by  that  body  on  July  4.     Thus, 
this   province    of  the    far  south-west   became    one   of 


GENERAL   SAMUEL    HOUSTON. 


the   States   of  the  Union  ;  the  largest  State  in  point  of 
size.     Houston  was   immediately  elected   to   the  U.  S, 


258  TfIR   BATTLES   OF  AMERICA. 

Senate,  and  continued  a  member  of  that  body  until 
1859,  when  he  was  elected  Governor  of  Texas. 

The  independence  of  Texas  having  been  acknowl 
edged,  not  only  by  the  United  States,  but  by  England, 
France,  and  some  other  countries,  the  right  of  its  citi 
zens  to  effect  any  change  they  pleased  in  their  condition 
was  necessarily  implied,  in  the  estimation  of  the  Govern 
ments  making  that  acknowledgment.  But  this  could 
not  bind  Mexico.  She  resolved  on  fighting,  and  on 
June  4,  1845,  the  Mexican  President  issued  a  proclama 
tion,  declaring  the  rights  of  his  country,  and  his  deter 
mination  to  defend  them  by  a  resort  to  arms,  if  that 
should  prove  necessary.  Our  declaration  of  war  \vas 
dated  May  13,  and  the  Mexican  declaration  was  issued 
on  May  23,  1845. 

President  Polk  was  beforehand  with  his  adversary  in 
taking  military  measures.  In  July,  1845,  he  ordered 
General  Zachary  Taylor,  then  in  command  of  troops  in 
the  south-west,  to  proceed  to  Texas,  and  occupy  a 
position  as  near  the  Rio  Grande  as  might  appear 
prudent.  The  force  was  about  1500  strong,  and  its 
commander  had  acquired  great  distinction  by  his  gal 
lant  conduct  against  the  refractory  Seminole  Indians. 
By  November,  he  had  an  army  of  rather  more  than 
4000  men.  A  camp  was  formed,  but  the  general  re 
mained  inactive  during  the  following  autumn  and  the 
early  part  of  the  winter. 

On  January  13,  1846,  the  Secretary  of  War  ordered 
Taylor  to  advance  from  Corpus  Christi  to  a  spot  near 
the  outfall  of  the  Rio  Grande,  opposite  the  Spanish  city 
of  Matamoras,  where  a  number  of  Mexican  troops  were 
gathering,  with  the  design  of  invading  Texas.  Here 
he  established  a  fortified  camp  opposite  Matamoras, 
and  commenced  the  erection  of  a  fort  large  enough  for 
2OOO  men,  to  which  the  name  of  Fort  Brown  was  given. 

When  Taylor  advanced  to  the  Rio  Grande,  the  town 


THE   MEXICAN   WAR. 


259 


and  fortress  of  Matamoras  were  strongly  garrisoned  by 
Mexican  troops,  and  his  position  soon  proved  rather 
serious.  Taylor's  supplies  were  cut  off;  a  reconnoiter- 


PRESIDENT  JOHN   TYLER. 


ing  party  was  partly  killed  and  partly  captured,  on 
April  24,  on  the  Texas  side  of  the  Rio  Grande ;  and 
the  whole  army  was  surrounded  by  a  superior  force  of 
Mexicans.  The  little  force  stationed  there  was  in 

Independence— \  7 


THE  BATTLES   OF  AMERICA. 

danger  of  being  overpowered,  and  Taylor  set  out,  on 
May  I,  with  iioo  men  for  the  relief  of  the  position. 
This  he  accomplished  after  a  good  deal  of  hard  fighting, 
and,  on  being  reinforced  by  23,000  men,  left  on  his 
return  to  the  camp  before  Matamoras.  On  their  way 
our  troops  saw  in  front  of  them  a  Mexican  force,  6000 
strong,  drawn  up  in  battle-array,  on  a  prairie  flanked  by 
ponds  of  water  and  trees,  at  a  spot  called  PALO  ALTO, 
not  far  from  the  Rio  Grande.  A  contest  of  five  hours' 
duration  ensued  on  May  8,  and  in  the  end  the  Mexi 
cans  gave  way  and  fled.  Next  day  a  still  more  decisive 
engagement  took  place  at  RESACA  DE  LA  PALMA,  three 
miles  from  Matamoras,  when  we  were  again  tri-, 
umphant,  and  General  La  Vega  was  captured,  together 
with  100  men,  eight  pieces  of  cannon,  three  standards 
and  a  quantity  of  military  stores.  The  Mexican  Com- 
mander-in-Chief,  Arista,  saved  himself  by  flight  across 
the  Rio  Grande,  and  the  invading  army  on  the  north-east 
bank  of  that  stream  was  completely  shattered.  Dur 
ing  Taylor's  absence  Fort  Brown  had  been  besieged 
by  the  Mexicans.  On  the  morning  of  May  3,  a  battery 
at  Matamoras,  on  the  other  side  of  the  river,  opened  a 
heavy  fire  on  the  fort,  while  a  large  body  of  troops 
crossed  to  attack  the  position.  The  garrison,  though 
few  in  number,  made  a  spirited  defence,  and  succeeded 
in  silencing  the  Mexican  battery;  but  soon  after  the 
attacking  forces  established  themselves  in  the  rear,  and 
began  to  plant  cannon.  Taylor  had  left  directions  to 
fire  heavy  signal  guns,  if  the  necessity  arose;  and  on 
May  6  the  signal  was  given.  He  arrived  in  time  to 
relieve  Fort  Brown,  and  to  save  the  detachment  sta 
tioned  there. 

After  the  resumption  of  hostilities  on  November  13, 
Worth  marched  towards  Saltillo,  the  capital  of  Coahuila, 
of  which  he  took  possession  on  the  1 5th.  Taylor,  leav 
ing  a  garrison  at  Monterey,  proceeded  towards  Victoria, 


THE   MEXICAN   WAR.  26 1 

the  capital  of  Tamaulipas,  but  returned  on  learning  that 
Tampico,  a  town  on  the  coast,  which  he  had  designed 
to  attack,  had  surrendered  on  the  I4th  to  Commodore 


GENERAL  ZACHARY  TAYLOR. 

{Afterwards  President  of  the  United  States) 

Connor.  That  officer  had  intended  to  bombard  the 
city;  but  when  the  smaller  vessels  from  his  squadron 
were  seen  approaching,  a  deputation  from  the  citizens 
offered  to  surrender  the  place,  on  condition  that  their 


362  THE  BATTLES   OF  AMERICA. 

laws,  institutions  and  property  were  respected.  We 
had  established  a  strict  blockade  of  the  Mexican  coast. 
Vera  Cruz  and  St.  Juan  d'Ulloa  were  closely  watched 
by  cruisers,  and  the  Mexicans  had  no  naval  power  where 
with  to  oppose  us.  One  of  Taylor's  reasons  for  return 
ing  to  Monterey  was  because  of  a  report  that  Santa 
Anna  was  collecting  a  large  force  at  San  Luis  Potosi, 
which  might  possibly  endanger  his  base  of  operations. 
When  the  divisions  of  Worth  and  Wool  had  effected  a 
junction  near  Saltillo  on  December  20,  the  danger  was 
at  an  end,  and,  nine  days  later,  General  Taylor  occupied 
Victoria.  At  an  earlier  date,  General  Kearney,  who 
had  command  of  the  Army  of  the  West,  marched  nearly 
IOOO  miles  across  the  wilderness  known  as  the  Great 
Plains,  and  among  the  mountain  ranges  by  which  it  is 
bordered,  and,  taking  possession  of  SANTA  FE,  the  capital 
of  New  Mexico,  on  August  18,  reduced  the  whole  prov 
ince  to  subjection,  without  the  necessity  of  any  further 
operations.  The  governor  and  4000  troops  fled  at  the 
approach  of  Kearney,  who  thereupon  constituted  a  new 
Government,  and  made  preparations  for  further  exploits. 
Kearney  departed  from  Santa  Fe  on  September  25, 
1846,  at  the  head  of  400  dragoons,  for  the  Californian 
settlements  of  Mexico  bordering  on  the  Pacific  Ocean; 
but,  learning  on  his  route  that  California  was  already  in 
our  possession,  he  sent  back  300  of  his  men,  and  with 
the  remaining  hundred  continued  his  expedition  towards 
the  west.  Arriving  at  Los  Angeles,  in  California,  on 
December  27,  he  found  a  singular  state  of  affairs.  Cali 
fornia  had  for  some  years  been  little  more  than  nomi 
nally  under  the  dominion  of  Mexico.  Several  Ameri 
cans  settled  in  the  country  shortly  after  the  revolt 
against  Spain ;  and  an  insurrection,  mainly  incited  by 
them,  broke  out  in  1836,  and  resulted  in  so  complete  a 
subversion  of  Mexican  authority  that  the  central  govern 
ment  was  compelled  to  allow  the  Californians  to  choose 


GENERAL   JOHN    C.    FREMONT. 

{Afterwards  an  unsuccessful  candidate  for  the  Presidency.} 


263 


264 


THE  BATTLES   OF  AMERICA. 


their  own  rulers.  A  state  of  anarchy  ensued,  and  the 
prevailing  influence  was  that  of  the  Americans.  In  the 
spring  of  1846,  John  C.  Fremont,  while  engaged  in  ex 
plorations  at  the  head  of  sixty  men,  had  been  threatened 
with  attack  by  De  Castro,  the  Mexican  Governor  on 
the  California!!  coast,  who  shortly  afterwards  began  to 
prepare  an  expedition  against  the  settlers  near  San 
Francisco.  Fremont,  losing  no  time,  roused  the  menaced 
colony,  captured  a  Mexican  post  and  garrison  (together 
with  nine  cannon  and  250  muskets)  at  Sbnora  Pass  on 
June  15,  and  then,  advancing  to  Sonora  itself,  defeated 
Castro  and  his  troops.  The  Mexican  rule  being  thus 
completely  crushed,  an  American  Government  was 
formed,  with  Fremont  for  its  head,  on  the  4th  of  July. 
On  the  /th,  Commodore  Sloat,  then  in  command  of  the 
squadron  in  the  Pacific,  bombarded  and  captured  the 
Californian  town  of  Monterey,  and,  on  the  Qth,  Commo 
dore  Montgomery  took  possession  of  San  Francisco. 
Fremont,  being  joined  some  time  after  by  Commodore 
Stockton,  seized  the  city  of  Los  Angeles  on  August  17. 
It  was  here  that  he  was  found  by  General  Kearney  at 
the  close  of  the  year,  and  that  officer  took  part  with  the 
other  two  in  the  final  struggle — the  battle  of  San  Gabriel, 
which  was  fought  on  January  8,  1847,  and  which  com 
pleted  the  conquest  of  California,  after  some  vain  efforts 
on  the  part  of  the  Mexicans  to  restore  their  sovereignty. 
In  January,  1847,  General  Scott  arrived  before  Vera 
Cruz,  for  the  purpose  of  invading  Mexico  from  that 
point.  Being  General-in-Chief  of  the  whole  American 
army,  he  took  command  of  all  the  forces  in  Mexico,  and 
directed  General  Taylor  to  send  a  large  number  of 
his  best  officers  and  troops  to  join  the  contemplated 
expedition.  Taylor  was  thus  left  at  Victoria  with  not 
more  than  5000  men  in  all,  of  whom  only  500  were 
regulars,  to  guard  a  line  extending  from  Matamoras 
to  Agua  Nueva;  while  in  his  front  was  an  army  of 


THE   MEXICAN   WAR.  2g^ 

20,000,  stationed  at  San  Luis  Potosi  under  Santa 
Anna.  On  February  4,  Generals  Taylor  and  Wool 
united  their  forces  at  Agua  Nueva,  20  miles  south 
of  Saltillo,  on  the  San  Luis  road.  The  adversary 
was  now  advancing  in  force,  and  Taylor,  disregard 
ing  the  numerical  weakness  of  his  army,  determined 
to  accept  battle.  He  considered  it  advisable,  how 
ever,  to  select  a  favorable  spot  in  which  to  meet 
the  enemy,  and  therefore,  on  February  21,  fell  back 
to  BUENA  VISTA,  at  a  distance  of  1 1  miles  from  Saltillo, 
where  he  drew  up  in  battle-order  on  an  elevated  pla 
teau  among  the  mountains,  skirted  on  the  west  by 
impassable  ravines,  and  on  the  east  by  a  succession 
of  rugged  heights.  The  Mexicans  were  seen  approach 
ing  about  noon  on  the  22d.  Some  fighting  followed  in 
the  afternoon,  when  our  troops  advanced  to  battle  with 
the  cry,  "  The  Memory  of  Washington  !  "  The  prin 
cipal  conflict  took  place  on  February  23.  The  battle 
lasted  from  morning  until  sunset.  Towards  the  close  of 
the  day,  a  desperate  assault  upon  the  centre,  commanded 
by  Taylor  himself,  was  made  by  Santa  Anna.  It  was 
withstood  with  extraordinary  firmness  and  resolution, 
and,  the  artillery  being  brought  into  effective  operation, 
the  Mexicans  were  hurled  back.  The  Mexicans  with 
drew  during  the  night,  leaving  their  dead  and  wounded 
behind  them,  and  it  was  afterwards  ascertained  that 
they  had  lost  1500  men.  In  their  flight  many  perished 
of  hunger,  thirst  and  fatigue.  Our  loss,  in  killed, 
wounded,  and  missing,  was  746,  of  whom  28  officers 
were  killed  on  the  field.  The  victory  was  not  only 
important  in  itself;  it  had  the  still  more  valuable  con 
sequence  of  breaking  up  the  army  of  Santa  Anna.  The 
frontier  of  the  Rio  Grande  being  now  secured,  Scott  was 
able  to  turn  his  whole  attention  to  the  capture  of  Vera 
Cruz.  In  the  following  September,  Taylor  returned 
home,  leaving  General  Worth  in  command  of  his  de- 


266  THE  BATTLES  OF  AMERICA. 

tachment.  On  the  day  that  was  distinguished  by  the 
great  battle  of  Buena  Vista,  General  Minon,  with  800 
cavalry,  was  driven  from  Saltillo  by  Captain  Webster. 
On  the  26th  a  number  of  Mexicans  were  defeated  at 
Agua  Frio;  and  on  March  7  Major  Giddings  was  suc 
cessful  against  the  enemy  at  Ceralvo. 

Some  operations  were  directed  against  the  Mexican 
province  of  Chihuahua.  Early  in  December,  1846, 
a  force  consisting  of  900  men,  under  Colonel  Doniphan. 
marched  more  than  1000  miles  through  the  enemy's 
couhtry,  fighting  two  battles  against  superior  forces,  and 
in  both  instances  prevailing.  The  battle  of  Bracito,  on 
the  east  bank  of  the  Rio  Grande,  was  fought  on  Christ 
mas  Day,  and  resulted  in  the  capture  of  El  Paso,  situated 
in  a  valley  30  miles  south  of  Bracito,  on  the  opposite  side 
of  the  river.  This  action  was  followed,  on  February  28, 
1847,  by  tne  battle  of  Sacramento.  The  scene  of  the 
latter  conflict  was  a  small  stream  about  20  miles  north 
of  Chihuahua,  a  city  containing  at  that  time  more  than 
40,000  inhabitants.  The  surrender  of  this  place  ensued 
shortly  afterwards,  and  Doniphan,  planting  the  flag  of 
the  United  States  upon  its  citadel  on  March  2,  took 
possession  of  the  whole  province  in  the  name  of  the 
Government.  Having  stayed  there  six  weeks,  he  joined 
General  Wool  at  Saltillo ;  and  by  these  brilliant  feats 
all  the  northern  parts  of  Mexico  were  placed  in  our 
possession. 

The  great  purpose  of  the  campaign  had  now  been  ac 
complished,  and  the  capital  of  Central  Mexico  had 
fallen.  The  heaviest  blow  which  Mexico  had  experi 
enced  had  now  fallen  on  her ;  and  never  before  had  so 
marked  an  evidence  of  her  weakness  been  exhibited  to 
the  world.  A  mere  handful  of  undisciplined  Volunteers 
had  marched  triumphantly  through  her  northern  prov 
inces  :  some  of  her  most  accomplished  generals,  and  the 
most  intelligent  of  her  troops,  had  been  met  and  over- 


THE   MEXICAN   WAR.  26j 

come ;  and  the  colors  of  her  enemy  floated  in  triumph 
over  the  capitals  of  New  Mexico,  Alta  California,  and 
Chihuahua. 

VERA  CRUZ. — It  was  hoped  to  bring  the  Mexicans  to 
terms  by  operating  on  their  remoter  provinces ;  but,  as 
they  showed  no  signs  of  yielding,  it  was  resolved  to 
subjugate  the  whole  country,  and  strike  at  the  very 
capital  itself.  This  was  the  plan  which  Scott  undertook 
to  carry  out,  and  the  first  step  towards  its  realization 
was  to  be  the  capture  of  Vera  Cruz,  the  principal  sea 
port  of  Mexico,  built  on  the  spot  where  Cortez  first 
landed  on  Mexican  territory.  The  city  was  regarded  as 
the  key  to  the  entire  realm,  and  was  certainly  a  position 
of  first-class  importance.  It  was  defended  by  the  for 
tress  of  San  Juan  d'Ulloa,  situated  on  an  island  or  reef 
not  more  than  400  fathoms  from  the  shore.  The  for 
tress  was  exceedingly  strong,  and  by  the  Mexicans  was 
supposed  to  be  impregnable.  Scott  collected  his  forces 
at  Lobos  Island,  125  miles  north  of  Vera  Cruz,  and 
thence  sailed  in  the  squadron  of  Commodore  Connor 
for  his  place  of  destination,  On  March  9,  1847,  he 
landed  near  Vera  Cruz,  with  an  army  of  13,000  men. 
The  city  was  invested  on  the  1 3th,  and  five  days  later 
the  town  and  fortress  were  summoned  to  surrender. 
This  being  refused,  the  trenches  were  at  once  completed, 
and  on  the  22d  the  first  batteries  opened  fire,  at  a  dis 
tance  of  800  yards  from  the  city.  The  attack  was  aided 
by  the  guns  of  the  fleet,  and  answered  by  the  artillery 
of  the  city  and  castle.  Until  the  morning  of  the  26th, 
this  horrible  storm  of  destruction  glared  and  clamored 
to  and  fro  between  the  besiegers  and  the  besieged,  caus 
ing  a  large  destruction  of  property  in  the  city 
and  the  loss  of  many  lives.  Arrangements  were  then 
commenced  for  an  assault,  when  the  governor  of  Vera 
Cruz  made  overtures  of  surrender.  On  the  night  of  the 


268  THE   BATTLES   OF  AMERICA. 

27th  articles  of  capitulation  were  signed,  and  on  the  29th 
the  city,  the  castle  of  San  Juan  d'Ulloa,  5000  prisoners 
and  500  pieces  of  artillery  were  given  up. 

In  spite  of  the  numerous  successes,  the  position  of 
our  troops  was  difficult  and  perilous.  They  were 
hated  by  the  Mexicans,  who,  regarding  them  as  oppressors 
and  heretics,  strove  wildly  to  throw  off  their  yoke.  A 
revolt  against  the  alien  government  broke  out  in  New 
Mexico  in  January,  1847.  Governor  Bent  and  others 
were  murdered  at  Fernando  de  Taos  on  the  iQth,  and 
massacres  occurred  in  other  places  as  well.  A  large 
body  of  insurgents  assembled  in  arms,  and  it  was  found 
necessary  to  despatch  a  force  against  them.  They  were 
defeated  and  dispersed;  but,  although  suppressed  in 
its  outward  manifestations,  the  feeling  of  bitter  opposi 
tion  did  not  cease  to  exist.  Our  Government  was  im 
pressed  with  the  desirability  of  a  speedy  peace,  if  it 
could  be  obtained  on  favorable  terms.  Towards  the 
end  of  1846,  overtures  of  this  nature  were  made  to  the 
Mexican  authorities,  but  they  still  thought  they  could 
vanquish  their  antagonists,  and  the  war  went  on.  Santa 
Anna  accepted  the  Presidency  on  December  6,  1846, 
but,  leaving  the  conduct  of  political  affairs  to  the  Vice- 
President,  he  placed  himself  at  the  head  of  the  army. 
After  his  defeat  by  Taylor  at  Buena  Vista  on  the  22d 
and  23d  of  February,  1847,  he  took  up  a  position  at 
CERRO  GORDO,  a  narrow  pass  at  the  foot  of  the  eastern 
chain  of  the  Cordilleras,  to  the  north-west  of  Vera  Cruz. 
Here  he  strongly  fortified  himself  at  points  which  domi 
nate  the  only  road  leading  through  the  mountain  fast 
nesses  into  the  country  beyond.  He  had  with  him  a 
large  force  of  men  and  several  pieces  of  cannon  ;  and  to 
dislodge  him  from  this  post  would  evidently  be  a  work 
of  difficulty.  Scott  did  not  shrink  from  attempting  it. 
On  April  8  he  sent  forward  the  advanced  guard  of  his 
army,  under  General  Twiggs.  Leaving  a  garrison, at 


THE   MEXICAN  IVAR. 


269 


Vera  Cruz,  Scott  himself  followed  with  the  main  body, 
about  8500  strong.  The  assault  was  made  on  the  morn 
ing  of  April  1 8,  when,  after  much  hard  fighting,  every 
one  of  the  Mexican  positions  was  taken  by  storm,  and 
3000  prisoners,  43  pieces  of  bronze  artillery,  5000  stand 
of  arms,  and  all  the  munitions  and  materials  of  the 
opposing  army  were  captured.  Santa  Anna,  who,  be 
fore  the  battle,  had  boasted  that  he  would  die  fighting 
rather  than  yield,  was  glad  to  escape  on  a  mule,  leaving 
his  papers  and  his  wooden  leg  behind  him. 

Continuing  their   march  towards  the  metropolis,  the 
victorious  army  entered  Jalapa  on  the  iQth,  and  on  the 
22d  the  castle  of  Perote,  situated  about  90  miles  in  a 
direct  line  north-west  of  Vera  Cruz,  surrendered  without 
any  resistance,  together  with  a  large  number  of  cannon, 
and  many  warlike  stores.     Scott  again  pushed  on,  and 
on  May  15  the  advance,  under  General  Worth,  entered 
the  city  of  Puebla,  which,  though  walled  and  fortified, 
made  no  opposition  to  the  conquering  hosts.     The  in 
vading  army  was  now  to  the  south-east  of  the  capital, 
and  the  reduction  of  that  city  had  yet  to  be   effected. 
It   was  necessary  to   allow  the  soldiers  some  rest,  for 
their  labors  had  been   extreme,  and  they  had,  in  the 
course  of  two  months,  gained  a  series  of  brilliant  vic 
tories,  and  carried  dismay  into  the  very  heart  of  Mexico. 
In  that  brief  period  they  had  captured  several  fortified 
places,  scattered  the  ranks  of  the  enemy,  made  io,OOO 
prisoners,  and  taken  700  pieces  of  artillery,  io,OOO  stand 
of  arms,  and  30,000  shells  and  cannon-balls.     These  re 
sults   were   due   partly  to  the  weakness  of  the  enemy, 
but  in  a  greater  degree  to  the  valor,  discipline,  and  per- 
severence  of  our  soldiers.     The  difficulties  encountered 
were    enormous.     The    mountainous    character    of  the 
country  made  it  perplexing  for  an  invader,  and  propor 
tionately  easy  of  defence.     Another  adverse  influence 
was  the  climate ;  and  the  number  of  strong  fortresses  to 


THE  BATTLES    OF  AMERICA. 

be  taken  added  to  the  troublesome  nature  of  the  task. 
Yet  all  these  obstacles  were  overcome  by  the  skill  oi 
General  Scott  and  his  companions;  and  for  the  present 
they  recruited  themselves  at  Puebla. 

Santa  Anna  had  concentrated  the  larger  number 
of  his  troops  at  El  Penon  and  Mexicalcingo,  where 
he  had  raised  a  line  of  fortifications  which  it  would 
not  have  been  easy  to  carry.  On  this  account  Scott, 
after  a  reconnoissance  on  the  I4th,  resolved  to  di 
verge  from  the  main  road;  and  by  the  i8th  the  entire 
army  had  reached  St.  Augustine,  ten  miles  from  the 
city  of  Mexico.  In  this  change  of  position,  the  right 
flank  of  our  divisions  were  protected  by  the  lakes  round 
which  they  marched,  so  that  there  was  no  danger  of  a 
sudden  attack.  We  had  in  front  the  fortress  of  St.  An 
tonio,  while  we  were  at  the  same  time  threatened  by 
the  battlements  crowning  the  heights  of  Churubusco, 
by  the  fortified  camp  of  Contreras,  where  General  Val 
encia  lay  with  6000  troops,  and  by  the  army  under 
Santa  Anna,  stationed  in  the  position  already  described. 

General  Worth  established  himself  in  the  Hacienda 
of  Bureo  on  August  18,  and  from  this  point  could  see 
the  enemy  at  work  upon  his  batteries.  The  Mexicans 
opened  on  the  advancing  columns,  but  little  was  done 
until  the  iQth,  when  the  fire  was  so  hot  that  our  troops 
were  compelled  to  shelter  themselves  behind  the  farm 
buildings.  Several  attempts  were  made  to  dislodge  the 
Mexicans  from  their  position,  but  without  success. 
Violent  rain  was  now  falling,  and  the  troops,  being  ill- 
equipped,  were  obliged  to  bivouac  for  the  night  without 
any  blankets.  On  the  following  morning,  however,  the 
batteries  in  the  vicinity  of  Contreras  were  carried  by 
assault,  and,  after  only  seventeen  minutes'  fighting,  were 
in  our  hands.  In  this  brief  but  fiery  passage  of  arms, 
the  Mexicans  lost  700  killed,  numerous  pieces  of  artil 
lery,  and  1500  prisoners.  At  the  same  time,  Scott  him- 


THE   MEXICAN   WAR. 


self,  in  a  prolonged  and  sanguinary  action,  carried  the 
heights  of  CHUKUBUSCO.  The  main  body  of  the  army 
now  pushed  on  towards  the  capital  ;  but  Worth  was 
ordered  to  remain  behind,  and  effect  the  capture  of  St. 


PRESIDENT  JAMES    K.    POLK. 


Antonio.  The  place  was  held  by  15,000  Mexicans, 
while  Worth  had  only  6000  troops  at  his  disposal. 
Nevertheless,  the  position  was  taken,  after  two  hours' 
fighting.  The  garrison  were  much  cut  up  in  their 


THE  JBATTLES   OF  AMERICA. 

retreat,  and  the  Mexican  cause  now  looked  so  hopeless 
that  a  truce,  proposed  by  Scott,  was  gladly  accepted, 
with  a  view  to  negotiations  for  peace. 

There  were  now  but  few  positions  remaining  be 
tween  the  advancing  ranks  of  the  invaders  and  the 
metropolis  of  Mexico  itself.  On  September  8,  Scott, 
not  waiting  for  the  termination  of  the  armistice  on 
the  later  date,  attacked  the  position  called  EL  MOLI- 
NOS  DEL  REY  (the  King's  Mills),  near  Chepultepec. 
The  post  was  one  of  much  strength,  and  is  said  to 
have  been  held  by  14,000  Mexicans,  under  the  im 
mediate  command  of  Santa  Anna,  while  the  attack 
ing  force  consisted  of  scarcely  4000.  In  the  first 
instance,  we  were  driven  back  with  great  slaughter; 
but,  on  rallying,  we  carried  the  position,  after  a  desperate 
conflict  of  an  hour.  The  Mexican  loss  was  nearly  a 
IOOO;  our  own  loss  was  over  Soo.  On  the  same 
morning,  the  Casa  de  Mata,  another  of  the  principal 
outer  defences  of  CHEPULTEPEC,  was  also  stormed  and 
carried;  and  the  castle  itself,  situated  on  a  rocky  height, 
150  feet  above  the  adjacent  ground,  was  now  the  only 
obstacle  which  remained  to  be  overcome  before  the 
victorious  legions  should  plant  their  flag  within  the 
capital  itself. 

The  situation  of  the  Mexican  metropolis  is  peculiar. 
It  stands  in  the  centre  of  a  wide  plain  surrounded  by 
mountains,  a  portion  of  which  plain  is  occupied  by  four 
lakes.  The  surface  of  three  of  the  lakes  is  above  the 
level  of  the  city,  while  the  other  is  only  a  few  feet 
below  it.  In  the  rainy  season,  the  rush  of  water  from 
the  neighboring  mountains  is  so  great  that  the  lakes 
overflow,  and  convert  the  land  about  the  capital  into  a 
marsh.  The  approaches  to  Mexico  are  by  long  narrow 
causeways  leading  to  the  several  gates ;  and  these 
causeways  were  in  1847  defended  by  the  fortified  post 
which  our  troops  carried  before  them  in  such  rapid 


THE  MEXICAN  WAR. 


273 


succession.  Before  the  final  operations,  Santa  Anna 
issued  an  address  to  the  inhabitants  of  Mexico,  in 
which  he  said  : — "  The  enemy  proclaimed  that  he  would 
propose  to  us  a  peace  honorable  for  both  nations,  *  *  * 
but  our  enemies  set  up  measureless  pretensions,  which 
would  have  destroyed  the  Republic,  and  converted  it 
into  a  miserable  colony  of  the  United  States." 

Several  batteries  were  raised  by  Scott  against  the 
castle  of  Chepultepec  on  the  night  of  September  II, 
and  a  heavy  bombardment  was  opened  on  the  1 2th. 
This  was  followed  on  the  I3th  by  an  assault,  in  which 
the  attacking  forces  drove  the  defenders  from  all  their 
positions,  and  obtained  complete  possession  of  the  for 
tress.  The  Mexicans  fled  towards  the  city,  pursued  by 
General  Quitman.  Fighting  was  renewed  during  the 
'day  on  the  lines  of  the  great  causeways ;  but  by  night 
fall  one  division  of  our  army  had  reached  the  suburbs 
of  MEXICO,  while  another  had  penetrated  within  the 
gates.  Santa  Anna,  the  remains  of  his  army,  and  the 
officers  of  the  Government,  sought  refuge  in  flight ;  and 
early  on  the  morning  of  September  14,  a  deputation 
from  the  municipal  authorities  waited  upon  General 
Scott,  and  begged  him  to  spare  the  town,  and  once 
more  enter  on  negotiations  for  peace.  Scott  was  not 
then  willing  to  discuss  terms  of  submission.  He  had 
expended  a  large  amount  of  life  in  reaching  the  metrop 
olis  of  the  republic,  and  he  resolved  to  humble  the 
pride  of  the  enemy  by  entering  in  force  into  the  ancient 
capital  of  the  Mexican  dominions.  He  accordingly  di 
rected  Generals  Worth  and  Quitman  to  move  forward 
along  two  of  the  chief  causeways,  and  plant  the  flag 
of  the  United  States  upon  the  National  Palace.  Gen 
eral  Scott  entered  at  the  head  of  his  staff,  accompanied 
by  a  squadron  of  cavalry,  at  ten  o'clock  in  the  morning, 
and  in  the  Grand  Plaza,  or  large  public  square,  in  the 
principal  part  of  the  city,  took  formal  possession  of  the 


274 


THE   BATTLES   OF  AMERICA. 


conquered  metropolis,  where  the  stars  and  stripes  were 
waving  in  triumph  over  the  palace  of  the  Montezumas. 
It  was  a  moment  of  pride  and  exultation  for  all  con 
cerned,  which,  when  the  news  came  to  be  known,  sent  a 
glow  of  satisfaction  through  the  popular  heart. 

Peace  negotiations  terminated  on  February  2,  1848. 
This  treaty  was  proclaimed  in  the  United  States  on  the 
4th  of  July  by  President  Polk,  and  the  long  quarrel  be 
tween  the  two  republics  was  brought  to  an  end.  Among 
the  chief  stipulations  of  this  agreement  were  the  evacua 
tion  of  Mexico  by  the  American  armies  within  three 
months;  the  payment  of  three  millions  of  dollars  in  hand, 
and  of  twelve  millions  more  in  four  annual  instalments, 
by  the  United  States  to  Mexico,  on  account  of  the  ceded 
territory ;  and  the  assumption  by  the  former  of  certain 
debts  due  to  their  citizens,  to  the  amount  of  three  and 
one-half  millions  of  dollars.  Fresh  boundaries  between 
the  two  countries  were  determined  on  ;  New  Mexico  and 
Upper  California  were  handed  over  to  us;  and  the  free 
navigation  of  the  Gulf  of  California,  and  of  the  river 
Colorado  up  to  the  mouth  of  the  Gila,  was  guaranteed 
to  the  United  States.  The  old  dominion  of  the  Monte 
zumas  was  thus  curtailed.  The  realm  which  Cortes 
added  to  the  Spanish  Monarchy  was  reduced  to  com 
paratively  small  proportions.  A  singularly  successful 
war  had  terminated  in  a  peace  which  brought  sub 
stantial  advantages  to  the  conquerors;  and  the  con 
quered,  left  to  the  influence  of  domestic  factions,  fell 
back  into  that  condition  of  anarchy  which  with  them 
seems  chronic  and  incurable. 


[The  Battles  for  the  Union  during  the  Civil  War,    extending   from 
I-86l  to  1865,  forms  a  second  volume  in  Altemus1  Historical  Series.~\ 


A.LTEMUS' 

Young  People's  Library. 

PRICE,  50   CENTS  EACH. 

THE  ADVENTURES  OF  ROBINSON  CRUSOE.  Ar 
ranged  for  young  readers.  With  70  illustrations. 

ALICE'S  ADVENTURES  IN  WONDERLAND.     With 

42  illustrations. 

THROUGH  THE  LOOKING  GLASS  AND  WHAT 
ALICE  FOUND  THERE.  (A  companion  to  Alice  in 
Wonderland.)  With  50  illustrations. 

BUNYAN'S  PILGRIM'S  PROGRESS.  Arranged  for 
young  readers.  With  46  full-page  illustrations. 

A  CHILD'S  STORY  OF  THE  BIBLE.  With  72  full-page 
illustrations. 

A  CHILD'S  LIFE  OF  CHRIST.     With  49  illustrations. 

THE  FABLES  OF  .ESOP.  Compiled  from  the  best  ac 
cepted  sources.  With  62  illustrations. 

THE  SWISS  FAMILY  ROBINSON,  or  the  Adventures 
of  a  Shipwrecked  Family  on  an  Uninhabited  Island. 
Arranged  for  young  readers.  With  50  illustrations. 

CD 


2  ALTEMUS'   YOUNG   PEOPLE'S   LIBRARY. 

CHRISTOPHER  COLUMBUS  AND  THE  DISCOVERY 
OF  AMERICA.  Arranged  for  young  readers.  With 
70  illustrations. 

THE  STORY  OF  EXPLORATION  AND  DISCOVERY 
IN  AFRICA.  With  80  illustrations. 

GULLIVER'S  TRAVELS  INTO  SOME  REMOTE  RE 
GIONS  OF  THE  WORLD.  Arranged  for  young 
readers.  With  50  illustrations. 

MOTHER  GOOSE'S  RHYMES,  JINGLES  AND  FAIRY 
TALES.  With  234  illustrations. 

LIVES  OF  THE  PRESIDENTS  OF  THE  UNITED 
STATES.  With  79  illustrations. 

THE  STORY  OF  ADVENTURE  IN  THE  FROZEN 
SEAS.  With  70  illustrations. 

ILLUSTRATED  NATURAL  HISTORY.  By  the  Rev. 
J.  G.  Wood.  With  80  illustrations. 

A  CHILD'S  HISTORY  OF  ENGLAND.  By  Charles 
Dickens.  With  50  illustrations. 

BLACK  BEAUTY ;  The  Autobiography  of  a  Horse.  By 
Anna  Sewell.  With  50  illustrations. 

THE      ARABIAN     NIGHTS'      ENTERTAINMENTS. 

Arranged   for  young   readers.     With   50   illustrations. 
Contains  the  most  favorably  known  of  the  stories. 

ANDERSEN'S  FAIRY  TALES.  Arranged  for  young 
readers.  With  75  illustrations. 

GRIMM'S  FAIRY  TALES.  Arranged  for  young  readers. 
With  50  illustrations. 


ALTEMUS'   YOUNG    PEOPLE'S   LIBRARY.  3 

GRANDFATHER'S  CHAIR.  By  Nathaniel  Hawthorne. 
With  60  illustrations. 

FLOWER  FABLES.  By  Louisa  May  Alcott.  With  50 
illustrations. 

AUNT  MARTHA'S  CORNER  CUPBOARD.  By  Mary 
and  Elizabeth  Kirby.  With  60  illustrations. 

WATER-BABIES;  A  Fairy  Tale  for  a  Land-Baby.  By 
Charles  Kinsgley.  With  84  illustrations. 

BATTLES  OF  THE  WAR  FOR  INDEPENDENCE. 
By  Prescott  Holmes.  With  70  illustrations. 

BATTLES  OF  THE  WAR  FOR  THE  UNION.  By 
Prescott  Holmes.  With  80  illustrations. 

YOUNG  PEOPLE'S  HISTORY  OF  THE  WAR  WITH 
SPAIN.  By  Prescott  Holmes.  With  89  illustrations. 

HEROES  OF  THE  UNITED  STATES  NAVY.  By 
Hartwell  James.  With  60  illustrations. 

MILITARY    HEROES    OF    THE    UNITED    STATES. 

By  Hartwell  James.     With  60  illustrations. 

UNCLE  TOM'S  CABIN.  By  Mrs.  Harriet  Beecher 
Stowe.  Arranged  for  young  readers.  With  90  illus 
trations. 

VIC ;  The  Autobiography  of  a  Fox-Terrier.  By  Marie 
More  Marsh.  With  illustrations. 

TALES  FROM  SHAKESPEARE.  By  Charles  and  Mary 
Lamb.  With  65  illustrations. 


4  ALTEMUS'   YOUNG  PEOPLE'S  LIBRARY. 

ADVENTURES  IN  TOYLAND.     By  Edith  King    Hull 
With  70  illustrations. 

THE    ADVENTURES    OF    A    BROWNIE.      By    Miss 
Mulock.     With  18  illustrations. 

MIXED    PICKLES.      By   Mrs.    E.    M.    Field.     With   31 
illustrations. 

THE    LITTLE     LAME     PRINCE.     By    Miss    Mulock. 
With  24  illustrations. 

THE  SLEEPY  KING.     By  Aubrey  Hopwood  and  Se 
rnour  Hicks.     With  77  illustrations. 


RIP   VAN   WINKLE.     A   LEGEND   OF   THE 

SON.     By  Washington  Irving.     With  40  illustrations. 

A  CHILD'S  GARDEN  OF  VERSES.     By  Robert  Louis 
Stevenson.     With  120  illustrations. 

ANIMAL  STORIES  FOR  LITTLE  PEOPLE.     With  50 
illustrations. 

ROMULUS,    the    Founder  of  Rome.     By   Jacob  Abbott. 
With  49  illustrations. 

CYRUS    THE    GREAT,   the    Founder    of    the    Persian 
Empire.     By  Jacob  Abbott.     With  40  illustrations. 

DARIUS  THE  GREAT,  King  of  the  Medes  and  Persians. 
By  Jacob  Abbott.     With  34  illustrations. 

XERXES    THE    GREAT,    King    of   Persia,      By   Jacol 
Abbott.     With  39  illustrations. 

ALEXANDER  THE   GREAT,    King  of  Macedon.     By 
Jacob  Abbott.     With  51  illustrations. 


ALTEMUS'   YOUNC;   PEOPLE'S   LIBRARY.  5 

PYRR1IUS,  King   of  Epirus.     By  Jacob  Abbott.     With 
45  illustrations. 

HANNIBAL,     the     Carthaginian.      By    Jacob     Abbott. 
With  37  illustrations. 

JULIUS    CAESAR,    the    Roman    Conqueror.      By    Jacob 
Abbott.     With  44  illustrations. 

ALFRED  THE  GREAT,  of  England.     By  Jacob  Abbott. 
With  40  illustrations. 

WILLIAM  THE  CONQUEROR,  of  England.     By  Jacob 
Abbott.     With  43  illustrations. 

HERNANDO   CORTEZ,  the  Conqueror  of  Mexico.     By 
Jacob  Abbott.     With  30  illustrations. 

MARY,  QUEEN   OF  SCOTS.     By  Jacob  Abbott.     With 
45  illustrations. 

QUEEN  ELIZABETH,  of  England.     By   Jacob   Abbott. 
With  49  illustrations. 

KING  CHARLES  THE  FIRST,  of  England.     By  Jacob 
Abbott.     With  41  illustrations. 

KING    CHARLES    THE    SECOND,    of    England.      By 
Jacob  Abbott,     With  38  illustrations. 

MARIA  ANTOINETTE,  Queen  of  France.     By  John  S. 
C.  Abbott.     With  42  illustrations. 

MADAME  ROLAND,  A  Heroine  of  the  French  Revolu 
tion.     By  Jacob  Abbott.     With  42  illustrations. 

JOSEPHINE,   Empress    of   France.     By    Jacob    Abbott. 
With  40  illustrations. 


6         HENRY  ALTEMUS  COMPANY'S  PUBLICATIONS. 

ALTEMUS'  ILLUSTRATED 

Young  People's  Histories 

By  EDWARD  S.  ELLIS,  A.M. 


Cloth,  ornamental.      75  cents  each. 


YOUNG  PEOPLE'S  HISTORY  OF  THE  UNITED 
STATES.  164  illustrations.  Strange  adventures  and 
marvelous  achievement  crowd  its  pages ;  and  the  at 
tainments  shown  in  the  fields  of  education,  of  dis 
covery,  of  invention,  of  literature,  of  art  and  science 
are  wonderful  and  unprecedented. 

YOUNG  PEOPLE'S  HISTORY  OE  ENGLAND.  160 
illustrations.  The  aim  of  this  volume  is  to  enable  the 
reader  to  easily  acquire  a  knowledge  of  the  leading 
facts  concerning  the  stupendous  British  Empire,  whose 
full  history,  teeming  with  mighty  events  and  spanning 
twenty  centuries,  requires  volumes  for  the  telling. 

YOUNG  PEOPLE'S  HISTORY  OF  FRANCE.  115  illus 
trations.  France  is  a  wonderful  nation,  and  her  history 
is  instructive,  for  it  includes  every  system  of  govern 
ment  that  the  ingenuity  of  man  has  devised.  It  is  full 
of  warnings,  too,  and  of  instructive  lessons  for  American 
youths. 

YOUNG    PEOPLE'S    HISTORY   OF   GERMANY.     112 

illustrations.  The  record  of  Germany,  now  among  the 
foremost  Powers  of  the  globe,  is  one  of  valiant  achieve 
ment  on  the  battlefield,  of  patient  suffering  under  grind 
ing  tyranny,  of  grim  resolution  and  heroic  endeavor, 
and  of  grand  triumphs  in  art,  science,  literature,  diplo 
macy. 


HENRY  ALTEMUS  COMPANY'S  PUBLICATIONS.        7 

ALTEMUS'  ILLUSTRATED 

Miscellaneous  Works. 


GEORGE  WASHINGTON  JONES,  A  Christmas  Gift 
That  Went  A-Begging.  By  Ruth  McEnery  Stuart. 
Pictures  by  E.  Potthast.  Cloth  $1 .00.  "  George  Wash 
ington  Jones  is  as  endearing  a  small  specimen  of  '  cul- 
lud '  humanity  as  one  has  met  in  fiction  for  many  a 
year,  and  the  history  of  his  touching  attempt  to  give 
himself  away  is  told  with  a  mingling  of  humor  and 
pathos  that  is  fairly  disarming." — New  York  Evening 
Post. 

GALOPOFF,  THE  TALKING  PONY.  By  Tudor  Jenks. 
Pictures  by  Howard  R.  Cort.  Cloth,  $1.00.  "The 
talking  pony  is  a  character  with  whom  children  and 
other  people,  too,  would  certainly  do  well  to  have  a 
listening  acquaintance. "—The  Criterion,  New  York, 
N.  Y. 

GYPSY,  THE  TALKING  DOG.  By  Tudor  Jenks.  Pic 
tures  by  Reginald  B.  Birch.  Cloth,  $1.00.  "  It  is  well 
to  read  all  that  Mr.  Jenks  tells  us  about  animals  that 
talk . ' ' — Pittsburg  Leader. 

"  After  reading  this  very  clever  story  children  will  wait 
for  remarks  from  their  own  pet  dogs." — Chicago  Post. 

CAPS  AND  CAPERS.  By  Gabrielle  E.  Jackson.  Pic 
tures  by  C.  M.  Relyea.  Cloth,  $1.00.  "It  is,  in  a 
modest  way,  a  girl's  'Tom  Brown,'  written  by  one 
who  knows  the  heart  of  a  girl,  and  thoroughly  appreci 
ates  it." — The  Advance,  Chicago. 


8         HENRY  ALTEMUS  COMPANY'S  PUBLICATIONS. 

FOLLY  IN  FAIRYLAND.  By  Carolyn  Wells.  Pic 
tures  by  Wallace  Morgan.  Cloth,  $1.00.  "  It  recounts 
the  adventures  of  a  little  girl  who  went  to  the  realm  of 
the  fairies,  but,  unlike  the  immortal  Alice,  her  experi 
ences  were  all  pleasant." — Chronicle,  San  Francisco,  CaL 

FOLLY  IN  THE  FOREST.  By  Carolyn  Wells.  Pic 
tures  by  Reginald  B.  Birch.  Cloth,  $1.00.  "In  Miss 
Wells'  books  there  is  always  something  going  on  from 
start  to  finish,  and  for  this  reason  they  are  as  interesting 
to  young  people  as  any  that  could  be  written." — Nash 
ville  American. 

TOMMY  FOSTER'S  ADVENTURES.  By  Fred  A.  Ober. 
Pictures  by  Stanley  M.  Arthurs.  Cloth,  $1.00.  "  Tommy 
is  an  every-day,  honest,  wide-awake  little  fellow,  who 
went  out  into  the  world  by  himself  and  really  saw 
things." — Christian  Register,  Boston,  Mass. 

FOR  PREY  AND  SPOILS;  OR  THE  BOY  BUCCA 
NEER.  By  Fred  A.  Ober.  Pictures  by  Reginald  B. 
Birch.  Cloth,  $1.00.  "  A  story  comparable  in  interest 
to  Stevenson's  '  Treasure  Island.'  " — Nashville  American. 

THE  LITTLE  LADY— HER  BOOK.  By  Albert  Bige- 
low  Paine.  With  45  illustrations  by  Louise  Heustis, 
Mabel  Humphrey,  and  others.  Cloth,  $1.00.  Helen 
Leah  Reed  in  her  list  of  thirty  best  books  for  young 
readers  in  the  Clubwoman  says :  "The  Little  Lady — Her 
Book,  by  Albert  Bigelow  Paine,  has  all  the  charm  of 
Mr.  Paine' s  previous  books.  They  are  especially  appre 
ciated  by  the  youngest  readers,  and  are  also  well 
adapted  to  reading  aloud." 

THE  ARKANSAW  BEAR.  By  Albert  Bigelow  Paine. 
With  35  illustrations  by  Frank  Ver  Beck.  Cloth,  $1.00. 
In  this  witty  and  ingenious  book  a  little  boy  and  a  big 
black  bear  become  companions  in  adventures  that  are 
always  diverting,  sometimes  pathetic,  but  never  tragic. 


HENRY  ALTEMUS  COMPANY'S  PUBLICATIONS.        0 

WINGS  AND  FETTERS.  A  Story  for  Girls.  By  Flor 
ence  Morse  Kingsley,  author  of  "  Titus,"  "  Paul," 
"  Stephen,"  etc.  Pictures  by  Reginald  B.  Birch.  Cloth, 
$1.00.  The  heroine  is  an  attractive  young  woman  of 
nineteen,  who  sacrifices  a  life  of  ease  to  care  for  an 
invalid  aunt  and  her  daughter. 

PAUL,  A  HERALD  OF  THE  CROSS.  By  Florence 
Morse  Kingsley.  Cloth,  illustrated  in  color,  $1.00. 

STEPHEN,  A  SOLDIER  OF  THE  CROSS.  By  Florence 
Morse  Kingsley.  Cloth,  ornamental,  illustrated  in 
color,  $1.00. 

THE  CROSS  TRIUMPHANT.  By  Florence  Morse  Kings- 
ley.  Cloth,  ornamental,  illustrated  in  color,  $1.00. 

POLLY  PERKINS'  ADVENTURES.  By  E.  Louise  Lid- 
dell.  Cloth,  illustrated,  $1.00.  "A  mere  mention  of 
the  names  of  its  principal  characters  should  be  sufficient 
to  recommend  the  book  to  the  little  folk — as  well  as  to 
many  of  the  grown-ups  who  still  preserve  tender  recol 
lections  of  mamma's  stories  at  sleepy-time." — Ledger 
Monthly,  New  York. 

RATAPLAN,  A  ROGUE  ELEPHANT,  AND  OTHER 
STORIES.  By  Ellen  Velvin,  F.  Z.  S.  Illustrations  in 
color  by  Gustavo  Verbeek.  Cloth,  $1.00.  "  We  know 
of  no  recent  children's  book  that  we  would  more 
quickly  or  more  confidently  give  to  a  child." — Chicago 
Record- Her  aid. 

DOUGHNUTS  AND  DIPLOMAS.  By  Gabrielle  E. 
Jackson.  Pictures  by  C.  M.  Relyea.  Cloth,  $1.00. 
The  heroine  is  an  energetic  piece  of  femininity  and 
manages  an  incapable  mother  and  a  fatherless  family  in 
such  a  capable  way  as  to  obtain  the  education  she  covets. 
Eventually  she  makes  doughnuts  in  the  Adirondacks 
to  enable  her  to  acquire  a  diploma  in  the  University  of 
Michigan. 


10       HENRY  ALTEMUS  COMPANY'S  PUBLICATIONS. 

HALF-A-DOZEN  HOUSEKEEPERS.  By  Kate  Doug 
las  Wiggin.  Pictures  in  color  by  Mills  Thompson. 
Cloth,  75  cents.  "An  animated  record  of  girlish  fun 
and  frolic,  simple,  natural  and  attractive." — Boston 
Transcript. 

THE  WANDERINGS  OF  JOE  AND  LITTLE  EM.     By 

Albert  Bigelow  Paine.  Pictures  by  J.  Connacher. 
Cloth,  50  cents.  "A  pretty,  pathetic  story  of  a  'boy 
prodigy  of  song,'  who,  left  an  orphan  with  his  little 
sister,  decides  to  walk  to  New  York  and  begin  his 
studies  there.  Joe  and  Little  Km  are  sure  to  make  as 
many  warm  friends  in  the  telling  of  this  story  as  they 
made 'on  the  road,' where  Joe's  wonderful  voice  won 
all  hearts." — Pittsburg  Bulletin. 

MARY  AUGUSTA'S  PRICE.  By  Sophie  Swett.  Cloth, 
illustrated,  50  cents.  Of  course  Mary  Augusta  is  the 
heroine — her  name  in  full  was  Mary  Augusta  Wing — 
and  her  aspirations,  struggles,  and  development  into  a 
successful  business  woman  are  told  as  only  Miss  Swett 
can  tell  them. 

HOW  BESSIE  KEPT  HOUSE.  By  Amanda  M.  Doug 
las.  Cloth,  illustrated,  50  cents.  Bessie  kept  house  for 
her  father  and  brothers  and  sisters  while  her  mother 
went  on  a  visit.  She  had  pleaded  hard  to  be  allowed  to 
do  this ;  but  somehow  many  things  went  wrong.  What 
those  things  were  and  how  her  experiences  became  of 
the  greatest  value  to  her,  one  must  read  to  find  out. 

TRIF  AND  TBIXY.  By  John  Habberton.  Cloth,  50 
cents.  A  story  of  a  dreadfully  delightful  little  gin  and 
her  adoring  and  tormented  parents,  relatives  and 
friends. 

DON'TS  FOR  GIRLS.  A  Manual  of  Mistakes.  By 
Minna  Thomas  Antrim.  Cloth,  50  cents.  Oo/e  calf, 
gilt  top,  boxed,  $1.00.  The  book  is  full  of  wisdom,  but 
not  of  the  stereotyped  kind,  and  has  walked  straight 
into  popularity. 


HENkY  ALTEMUS  COMPANY'S  PUBLICATIONS.       11 

DON'TS  FOR  BOYS.  Errors  of  Conduct  Corrected.  By 
an  Old  Boy.  Cloth,  50  cents.  Ooze  calf,  gilt  top, 
boxed,  $1.00.  It  is  a  book  for  "  all  sorts  and  condi 
tions"  of  boys,  but  will  be  best  appreciated  by  brainy 
young  Americans  who  do  not  relish  long-winded  advice, 
but  welcome  "  snappy"  paragraphs  that  appeal  to  their 
good  sense. 

POOR  BOYS'  CHANCES.  By  John  Habberton,  author 
of  "  Helen's  Babies."  Cloth,  136  illustrations,  50  cents. 
"  We  tried  it  on  the  office  boy,  who  is  ambitious  and 
industrious,  and  will  some  day  be  a  great  newspaper 
proprietor.  When  asked  what  he  thought  of  the  book 
he  replied  :  '  Fine.'  The  book  is  a  great  acquisition  to 
any  boy." — Cincinnati  Times-Star. 

SEA  KINGS  AND  NAVAL  HEROES.  By  Hartwell 
James.  Cloth,  137  illustrations,  50  cents.  "These 
stories  of  famous  sea  fights  of  the  world,  with  other 
naval  adventures  and  enterprises,  are  important  as  a 
branch  of  education,  giving  as  they  do  adequate  ideas 
of  great  events  and  clear  conceptions  of  renowned  per 
sonages.  ' ' — Inter-  Ocean. 

THE  STORY  OF  THE  GOLDEN  FLEECE.  By  And 
rew  Lang.  Pictures  by  Mills  Thompson.  Cloth,  50 
cents.  It  happened  long  ago,  this  adventure  of  the 
Golden  Fleece,  but  the  fame  of  the  heroes  who  sailed 
away  to  a  distant  land  to  win  themselves  renown  for 
ever  has  lived,  having  been  told  many  times  in  story 
and  song.  Yet  who  could  tell  it  like  Mr.  Lang,  with 
his  poet's  passion  for  beauty,  his  artist's  eye  for  color 
and  detail? 

THE  LITTLE  BOY  AND  THE  ELEPHANT.  By  Gus- 
tave  Frankenstein.  Pictures  by  Gustave  Verbeek. 
Cloth,  50  cents. 

BUMPER  AND  BABY  JOHN.  By  Anna  Chapin  Ray. 
Illustrated.  Cloth,  50  cents. 

A  GOURD  FIDDLE.  By  Grace  MacGowan  Cooke.  Illus 
trated.  *  Cloth,  50  cents. 


12     HENRY  ALTEMUS  COMPANY'S  PUBLICATIONS. 
ALTEMUS'  ILLUSTRATED 

Good  Time  Series. 


Attractive  books  by  popular  authors,  each  containing 
qualities  which  children  are  quick  to  perceive  and 
appreciate.  They  strongly  appeal  to  those  who  judi 
ciously  select  what  children  shall  read.  Handsomely 
printed,  profusely  illustrated  and  attractively  bound. 
Cloth,  illuminated  covers  (5£  x  7|  inches),  50  cents  each. 

UNDER  THE  STARS.  By  Florence  Morse  Kingsley. 
Four  beautiful  stories  from  the  life  of  Jesus.  "A 
Watch  in  the  Night."  "  The  Child  in  Jerusalem." 
"The  Only  Son  of  His  Mother."  "  The  Children's 
Bread."  Cloth,  50  cents. 

THE  STORY  OF  THE  ROBINS.  By  Sarah  Trimmer. 
This  story  has  received  nothing  but  praise  from  the 
greatest  critics ;  and  it  has  been  illustrated  by  the  best 
artists.  Its  purpose  is  to  teach  kindness  to  animals. 
Cloth,  50  cents. 

JACKANAPES.  By  Juliana  H.  Ewing.  In  the  story  of 
"  Jackanapes,"  the  Captain's  child,  is  the  one  impor 
tant  figure.  The  doting  aunt,  the  faithful  Tony,  the 
irascible  General,  the  postman,  the  boy  trumpeter,  the 
silent  Major,  and  the  ever-dear  Lollo,  are  there,  it  is 
true,  but  they  group  around  the  hero  in  subordinate 
positions.  Cloth,  50  cents. 

THE  CHRISTMAS  STOCKING.  By  Elizabeth  Wether- 
ell.  This  story  of  the  Christmas  Stocking  has  helped 
to  make  many  children  happy,  for  without  it  many 
fathers  and  mothers  would  have  never  thought  of 
making  arrangements  for  the  visit  of  Santa  Claus. 
Cloth,  50  cents. 


HENRY  ALTEMUS  COMPANY'S  PUBLICATIONS.       13 

LADDIE.  By  the  Author  of  "  Miss  Toosey's  Mission."  A 
charming1  story  that  has  been  popular  many  years,  and 
deservedly  so.  Cloth,  50  cents. 

MAKING  A  START.  By  Tudor  Jenks.  The  story  of  a 
bright  boy  who  did  not  wait  for  u  something  to  turn 
up,"  but  exercised  his  talent  for  drawing  until  he 
secured  a  good  position  on  a  great  daily  newspaper. 
Cloth,  50  cents. 

THE  STORY  OF  A  DONKEY.  By  Mme.  La  Comtesse 
de  S£gur.  In  this  book  the  donkey  tells  the  story  of 
his  life  and  adventure,  because,  as  he  says,  "  I  want 
you  to  treat  all  of  us  donkeys  kindly,  and  to  remember 
that  \ve  are  often  much  more  sensible  than  some 
human  beings."  Cloth,  50  cents. 

MISS  TOOSEY'S  MISSION.  By  the  Author  of  "  Laddie." 
A  delightful  and  wholesome  story  that  has  had  a  wide 
circulation  and  still  holds  its  popularity.  Cloth,  50  cents. 

JESSICA'S  FIRST  PRAYER.  By  Hesba  Stretton.  A 
beautiful  and  pathetic  story  which  appeals  to  all  chil 
dren,  and  to  older  readers  as  well.  Cloth,  50  cents. 

A  BLUE  GRASS  BEAUTY.  By  Gabrielle  E.  Jackson. 
With  the  story  of  the  ' '  Blue  Grass  Beauty  ' '  is  woven 
that  of  some  very  nice  people,  and  all  is  set  forth  in 
Mrs.  Jackson's  inimitable  manner.  It  is  far  too  good  a 
book  to  mislay.  Cloth,  50  cents. 

THE  STORY  OF  A  SHORT  LIFE.  By  Juliana  H. 
Ewing.  Many  people  admire  Leonard's  story  as  much 
as  "  Jackanapes."  It  is  a  simple,  exquisitely  tender 
little  story.  Cloth,  50  cents. 

THE  ADVENTURES  OF  BARON  MUNCHAUSEN. 
By  Rudolph  Erich  Raspe.  These  stories  are  so  out 
rageous,  and  Munchausen  asserts  so  strongly  that  they 
are  all  strictly  true,  that  his  name  has  become  proverbial 
as  a  synonym  for  extravagant  boasting.  Cloth,  50  cents. 


14       HENRY  ALTEMUS  COMPANY'S  PUBLICATIONS. 

ALTEMUS'  ILLUSTRATED 

HOLLY-TREE  SERIES 


A  series  of  good,  clean  books  for  young  people,  by  authors 
whose  fame  for  delightful  stories  is  world-wide.  They 
are  well  printed  on  fine  paper,  handsomely  illustrated, 
have  colored  frontispieces,  and  are  bound  in  cloth  deco 
rated  in  gold  and  colors,  50  cents. 

THE  HOLLY-TREE.     By  Charles  Dickens. 

THEN  MARCHED  THE  BRAVE.  By  Harriet  T. 
Comstock. 

A  MODERN  CINDERELLA.     By  Louisa  M.  Alcott. 
THE  LITTLE  MISSIONARY.    By  Amanda  M.  Douglas. 
THE  RULE  OF  THREE.     By  Susan  Coolidge 
CHUGGINS.     By  H.  Irving  Hancock. 
WHEN  THE  BRITISH  CAME.   By  Harriet  T.  Comstock. 
LITTLE  FOXES.     By  Rose  Terry  Cooke. 

AN  UNRECORDED  MIRACLE.  By  Florence  Morse 
Kingsley. 

THE  STORY  WITHOUT  AN  END.     By  Sarah  Austin. 
CLOVER'S  PRINCESS.     By  Amanda  M.  Douglas. 
THE  SWEET  STORY  OF  OLD.     By  L.  Haskell. 


HENRY  ALTEMUS  COMPANY'S  PUBLICATIONS.       15 

ALTEMUS'  ILLUSTRATED 

Mother  Goose  Series. 


A  series  of  entirely  new  editions  of  the  most  popular  books 
for  young  people.  Handsomely  printed  from  large, 
clear  type,  on  choice  paper;  each  volume  containing 
about  one  hundred  illustrations.  Half  vellum,  with 
illuminated  sides  (6|x8|  inches),  price,  50  cents  each. 

ALADDIN;    OR,  THE  WONDERFUL  LAMP. 

OUR  ANIMAL  FRIENDS. 

BEAUTY  AND  THE  BEAST. 

BIRD  STORIES  FOR  LITTLE  PEOPLE. 

CINDERELLA ;  OR,  THE  LITTLE  GLASS  SLIPPER. 

THE  HOUSE  THAT  JACK  BUILT. 

JACK  AND  THE  BEAN-STALK. 

JACK  THE  GIANT-KILLER. 

LITTLE  RED  RIDING  HOOD. 

PUSS  IN  BOOTS. 

THE  SLEEPING  BEAUTY. 

WHO  KILLED  COCK  ROBIN? 


16      HENRY  ALTEMUS  COMPANY'S  PUBLICATIONS.. 

ALTEMUS'  ILLUSTRATED 

Wee  Books  for  Wee  Folks 

Charming  stories,  beautifully  illustrated,  and  daintily,  yet  durably 
bound.     50  cents  each. 

NURSERY  TALES. 

NURSERY  RHYMES. 

THE  STORY  OF  PETER  RABBIT. 

THE  FOOLISH  FOX. 

THREE  LITTLE  PIGS. 

THE  ROBBER  KITTEN. 


ALTEMUS'  ILLUSTRATED 

Banbury    Cross    Series 

This  is  a  series  of  old  favorites,  printed  on  plate  paper;  each 
volume  containing  about  forty  beautiful  illustrations,  in 
cluding  a  frontispiece  in  colors.  Half  vellum,  with  illumi 
nated  sides.  Square  16mo.  Price,  50  cents  each. 

OLD  MOTHER  HUBBARD. 

CHICKEN-LITTLE. 

BLUE  BEARD. 

TOM  THUMB. 

THE  THREE  BEARS. 

THE  WHITE  CAT. 

THE  FAIRY  GIFTS. 

SNOW-WHITE  AND  ROSE-RED. 


14  DAY  USE 


OWED 


RETURN 


This  book  is  due  on  the  last  date  stamped  below,  or 

on  the  date  to  which  renewed. 
Renewed  books  are  subject  to  immediate  recall. 


2Apr'57lW 

9  JUl'59GU 

REC'D  I  D 

REC'D  LD 

2    11*57 

JUL    G.S59 

1  *>     JOB/ 

/^r* 

r  .,:;*^ 

ffltawH 

|Vi~«v-»   s>^ 

rr*  n    n  -o    lOit^) 

REC'D  LD 

FLB  21  >"«^ 

FEB  22  1958 

,       25Nov'62GW 

fSftflii 

>  MAI 

f^t^lC  ^*l*^     |     »"^ 

tf  "•  j 

REC'n  §  r\  / 

woy  jg  1  7^2 

Qn 

. 

JRffife'D  LD 

jmo  Z^<8£.1 

• 

LD  21-100m-6,'56 
(B9311slO)476 


General  Library 

University  of  California 

Berkeley 


M126818 

EW 


THE  UNIVERSITY  OF  CALIFORNIA  LIBRARY 


